VxM Issue 5 by Darren Mann

Cover Page

Book Review:

The Ivory 16 Ways

Not to Get

Arrested Special P

ull-Out

Strange

Child Soldiers

& Fun Fa

cts

Sherlock

Holmes

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Go

ing On?

The Histo

ry of Ips

wich

Supplem

ent!

ISSUE

Polish and Proud!

Issue 5

Contents 03

The Ivory - Book Review

04 Fashion Essentials

The Black Mirror

ic 09 Shane Chambers Mus 10

Why Are You Apologising?

25 14

t t Arrested Ge ’s Tr tous Not s ce ayin TheWPr 16

Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Child Soldiers

Heavy Metal in the Middle Ea

Polish and Proud!

The Prince’s Trust

Book Review:

The Ivory 16 Ways

Not to Get

Arrested Polish and Proud!

Child Soldiers

Kicthen Invaders!

Sherlock Holmes What’s Going On?

The History of Ipswich

Contributors

ject Officer, ordinator, Claudia Parrino; Pro Darren Mann: VXM Project Co signer, ent, Shannon Noy: Page De Tonia Wilson: Youth Engagem gues: Writer, dri Ro Avrillon: Writer, Maria Yuk Sunh: Page Designer, Eva iter antelle: Writer, Ben Driver: Wr Shane Chambers: Writer, Ch

What’s Going

On?

The History

of Ipswich

VxM

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Strange & Fun Facts

ut Suppleme nt!

Fun Facts

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36 Pablo McSheen 39

Special Pull-O

Strange &

Sherlock Holmes

U ISS E

On the Cover

01. A Place to Visit 02. A History of Ipswich 04. Strange and Fun Facts 05. What’s Going On?

on, VxM promotes media educati on and cti wisdom, participation, produ geted at 16 dissemination initiatives tar ularly on to 25 year olds, focusing partic cultural identity.

Thank You!

THE

IVORY 03

Book Review: Arthur: Prince Denny U. Omoregie Review by: Eva Avrillon The Ivory… The title itself evokes the riches of Africa. The novel takes place at the end of the 19th century in the Kingdom of Benin, in Western Africa. It is ruled by a very just and wise king who was chosen by the gods to reign, and whom is highly respected by his people, the brave Edo, gifted with supernatural power. During celebrations arrives a mysterious and great warrior, Asako, who enters in king’s army, and later, a young boy called Osaro who comes from the same village as Asako. Their destinies are linked by a secret, which has long been kept by their community. Osaro has nightmares and warns the king against a war, but chiefs, jealous about the affection of the king for the boy don’t take his warning on account. The British, attracted by the prosperity of the kingdom, tried for years to put their hands on it, and send a delegation to the king, who sends them back with an escort because he knows their hidden motivations. But his chiefs, who disagree with the merciful behaviour of their king, massacre the British on the way and keep their crime secret. But survivors report to their authorities and Britain declares war to Benin. The British helped by jealous neighbours of the Edo people and by their sophisticated weapons, invade the kingdom. The time has come for Asako and Osaro to protect their king, and to see if the magic of the Edo can resist the British canons.

This novel tells the readers the end of a world full of magic and ancient traditions, and even tragic love stories. It is inspired by real historical events. Even if the story is addressed to young readers, I must say I have learnt a lot about it, and I have discovered a great civilisation I didn’t know before. The very precise descriptions of the characters, of the beliefs in this ancient kingdom, of the clothes, catch the attention and the imagination. The supernatural dimension adds a touch of mystery for the European reader I am, it is so surprising to imagine people using magic as I brush my teeth every morning, and moreover to imagine that supernatural doesn’t astonish anybody! I’m sure that young people will love it, because this fiction gives history a human dimension, it is not a documentary or a lesson at school.

Make history alive is the goal of the goal of the author, Prince Denny U. Omoregie. He was born into Benin royal family, and you can read on his website that history has always been important for them. So he wants to share his passion for history with young people by historical fiction. I agree to his view, because I discovered history through fiction – books or movies – when I was younger, and I am sure you’ll enjoy it. If you want to know more about the author, visit his website: http://www.historyshouldbefun.com/index.html

Fall / Winter Essentials Maria Rodrigues

Dorin, Owner and Hairdresser at Cut It Style It Best treatment: I would recommend steaming; because it would give what your hair gonna need. Most wanted Styles: A lot of natural hair Hair Advice : Give a little brush, add any product you may need to add to help you calm your hair and weekly use a good conditioner and shampoo.

Lily Parkins, 18, Sales Assistant at Just Essentials

Kylie Collins, 20, Sales Assistant at Jonathan James

Must have: all the pastel colors polish Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without: eyelashes Recommend product: Directions Hair Dye

Best design: High Hills Must have shoes: Ugg boots Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without: tennis

The new season is arriving within a few weeks. Soon we will say goodbye to the pleasant temperature and hello to the lower and gray one. For the next fall/winter the

trends are for all tastes, so no excuse to stay out. To help you get the perfect look we spoke with different beauty experts around Ipswich about their personal choices for the next season.

Oliver Haldon, 20, Sales Assistant at Internacionale

Chelsy, 20, Manager at Claireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Must have: punk and all hippie looks One essential: something wormed, maybe a jumper Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without: my jacket

Best accessories: leg warmers Must have: colorful headphone One essentials: Blush pallet

Black Mirror

Interview with Kevin and Zico, Members of CSV Youth Black Forum By Eva Avrillon

•

What could you tell me about the Black Forum? What is it exactly?

K: A forum is like a group of people coming together to discuss issues and topics. Everyone, in this group of ten to twelve people, are coming together and having meetings about issues that they may face and what is happening as a way to move forwards. Z: My personal views on the Black Forum is basically how black people, today, are viewed in the society, and if they have equal opportunities just like anyone else. •

What issues do you talk about?

Z: One topic we talk about is how young black people have

to deal racism in the Suffolk area. I don’t think there is much now as it has been a few years ago, but it still exists. And I know people that, at school years ago, used to take racial abuse, use of words every day. Some of them got so depressed and so insecure about themselves, that started going to the extended measures of bleaching their skin to make it lighter. They did not want to deal with the fact that they are black and everyone is white around them. They were taking so much abuse and thought they can start bleaching their skin to make it lighter so they can fit in more. So basically they thought they weren’t part of the school; they weren’t part of all these white friends. Do you know what I mean? It is a serious issue, because you shouldn’t have to do this to you, you are born one way, you should stay that way. You shouldn’t change you appearance for anyone else. Another topic we were talking about is stop and search in

Ipswich, not even Ipswich but to say in Britain, for young black people. If I talk about myself, ‘cause I used to live in London. On every day basis, without a doubt at least once a day I’ll get stopped and search by a CID or normal uniform police officer for a random stop and search. It was an everyday occurrence and I don’t know why. I feel this don’t happen to a lot of white of people. I feel I know why because I am black, because I wear certain clothes and maybe have a hood on. Yeah basically, they’re stereotyping us… Stop stereotyping me; I am not the type of person who goes out every day and starts committing a crime. If I’m walking down in the street, with a hood and a tracksuit on, it doesn’t make me about to rob the next person I see. Shops make clothes for everyone to wear, so police should not be stopping us because of the style of clothes we are wearing.

•

For each of you, what are the personal reasons for your involvement in the Black Forum?

Z: My involvement as a young black male is breaking stereotypes and the Black Forum is where we get together as a group of young black people to talk why we get abused and targeted for the wrong reasons. It is a way of expressing our views on how we are treated. That’s the reason I am here, to stand for who I am. K: And hopefully make some changes for the next generations and the people who had this kind of experience.

Z: There are some people that say oh-racism doesn’t happen. It is in our face every day. If you walk in Ipswich town – I am talking about black people getting jobs – if you walk from the start of town to the end of town, and you look left and right, in every single shop, you hardly see any black people working in the stores, in retail shops. Why is this? Because we’ve all applied for them, but we’re not getting the jobs. Why is this? Kevin: Racism can be under cover as well. Sometimes you don’t necessarily see it but it does happen. •

So, for you there is a real need of such a forum in Ipswich – and even anywhere else in Britain…

Z: In Britain, basically yeah. Britain is the same. We’d need to have a “Black Mirror” or a black newspaper. K: But media is controlled by someone else in England. Z: Obviously some young black males don’t do the things that they get stereotyped for and others do these things. But a lot of this has to do with frustration and boredom. What people don’t realise is that young black people have a lot of talent, and a lot of potential to do well in the world, but because we are not given opportunities, we get bored, frustrated and we find other things to do that may be not the right things but that keep us contained. But if we are allowed to express what we can do or our talent, it will be positive. Because we don’t get the chance to do anything positive really, it doesn’t make sense. We don’t have the chance to get jobs. It’s not that ones don’t get chance, it’s that chances are very, very slim. It’s like if we can’t play football or we can’t do a certain sport, that’s it

for us. People don’t realise we have good brains as well, that our brains are the same as anyone else. You can be from France, Africa, China; we all got a brain, we can all use it if we want to but we’re not given a chance to. That’s how I feel. That’s my views and I am very strong about them. Basically, it is equality of opportunity. •

How do you feel to be part of the Black Forum? What are the benefits for you?

K: It is a sense of pride and it gives you a voice. It is literally to be able to be part of world: you have a voice and your voice can be heard. Z: Whereas we are able to express our views even if it is for a little recorder in the CSV Centre. If you would like to take part in the Black Forum contact Tonia Wilson on twilson@csv.org. uk or call on 01473 418035.

: This year, 2012, I’ve sat back and looked at the world in a different prespective; taken trips back to London Islington, where I’m from. So I’ve had no breaks off the music because of the situation we’ve all been going through. Including the riots. Everyone, so you will hear from me & my music in the future. Influenced by you, the listeners. Stay strong, and wise. For those who don’t know me, when you listen to my words, they should be able to relate to my music; wheather it’s domestic, discrimination, criminal or an activity. Chambers ft Usher

Why are

you

apologising for being

black?

The United States has a black president. Whatever our thoughts maybe on this, he is still a man of colour, something that Tupac said we wouldn’t see. Why are we so set back or made to take the back seat in the UK? Who is restricting us and why? What are the reasons? Are we doing it to ourselves by portraying black people as ‘class clowns’ and letting others in on our ‘in house’ jokes and then have the right to get mad? Has the seriousness of racism run its course?

Black is a powerful and dominant word associated with successful people. A judge wears black and decides if a person gets life or not, a police officer decides if a person spends the night in the cell or not, and a banker decides if a person gets that loan. These people wear the colour black, show authority and decide the outcome of others’ lives. Then, why is it that we black people don’t carry the colour with such pride and take control of our lives? What are the reasons for some of us being afraid of the word black? Surely we aren’t scared of our own reflections, so why is it we black people are apologetic to nonblack people when it comes to this word? Why do we feel that we make other races uncomfortable? Surely non-racists wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with certain words or phrases, so therefore the problem must start with our thoughts and feelings. It’s blatant

that we are black, so why try to hide or sugar coat it? Just say the word and be proud. ‘Yes Boss, we got a nice place here,’ is what the house nigger would say to his slave owner. Sadly, there are still house niggers in the 21st century. Why is it we black people feel we haven’t earned or deserved the right to be treated equally or furthermore treated as the human beings that we are and not puppets. It is time that we learn of our greatness in the history that was before slavery and our ability to be great. Once we were kings and queens and this should be shown to our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, instead of getting our information from ‘his-story’ songs and films, which all play into the hands of a racist media. Aspire and take note from the black people that were not afraid of the colour black.

Parrino Claudia

Ways

NotArrested To Get

We spoke to Mr. Skippen from FISON & Company regarding our rights. 1. A police officer can ask you to leave a place. No, unless it is a designated area. Councils must display notices advising people if they are in a designated area. Yes, if you are in a designated area. The Anti Social Behaviour Act of 2003, section 30 allows the police or community support officer to ask a person to leave a designated area for up to 24 hours as long as they don’t live there. They can do that if they suspect the person might be about to commit anti social behaviour even if the person is actually not. 2. A police officer wants to talk to you, but you don’t want to and therefore you don’t have to. No, you don’t have to give them any information under Article 8 the right to private life. Yes, it is quite sensible to talk to them as the police officer is a human being underneath the uniform. 3. I have been stopped and search in the past but never know why… Police do have the right to stop you but they should tell you why they stopped you. They can’t stop, search you and then say ah, this is what we are looking for. They are supposed to tell you first what they are looking for. If they are looking for someone who is wearing black gloves and a hoodie, the police will be in really trouble if they don’t stop someone who fits in the descrip-

tion. They will stop people, sometimes the wrong people because they match the description. Trying to outsmart the police officers doesn’t work because at the end of the day they’ve got the power. It is a fact of life. 4. If you are arrested and don’t talk, the police can’t make you do anything if you are not saying your name or anything, right? That is right, they can’t but they can charge you if they’ve got evidence that someone says you did it. If you turn up with an alibi the court can say, why didn’t you tell that at the time? If you got a good reason for why you didn’t say it at the time, then you are ok but if you haven’t a good reason they will think you made it up since. If the police haven’t got any evidence against you, then you don’t have to give them any evidence. But if the police say to you, someone told us that you were seen outside Liquid and actually you were somewhere else. It will be silly not say anything, as they can go and check and then you are free. Otherwise you could end up getting charged. 5. When the police interview me, they ask me lots of stuff… Section 34 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act makes it clear that in an interview

you only need to answer questions that you are expected to answer. The police like to find out as much as they can about people. If someone is arrested they can check all the numbers on the phone, they can even retrieved the deleted stuff from your phone. So if someone is arrested on suspicion of stealing a car, some police officers would start interviewing saying: I know you are here on suspicion of stealing a car but we’d like to get some background of you, so first of all where do you live? Who lives with you and what do they do? You can answer nothing about that, as section 34 says that it can only apply to something you are expected to answer. If you are accused of stealing a car, no one can expect you to start saying who you live with. What is the relevance of that? You don’t have to answer that; they cannot bring it up in court afterwards. 6. I always kick off when the police arrest me… There are police officers in London and elsewhere, I don’t know about Ipswich, that get more tax free money in a separate way that they do from their salary. I spoke to someone recently and said ‘I’ve got fined £200 comes out of my benefits for kicking a police officer’. Actually, it is not a fine, it is compensation of £200 to the police officer. Compensation is payment to a police officer or to anybody that you assault and is tax free. So you are giving a police officer £200 out of your money. This person is paying the police officer for kicking him, but if he didn’t kick the officer he wouldn’t have to pay the officer any money. If the police officer is not arresting you and you kick off then, you would have to pay compensation to the police officer for assault. If you want the police officer to have a nice holiday and car, kick off. 7. What about if I get arrested but did not do anything? If a police officer arrests you when he shouldn’t do, you can sue the police for wrongly arresting you and get compensation. Since 1 January 2007, all offences are now arrestable to the discretion of the officer. So, if someone drops a bit of litter, they are allowed to arrest them. If a police officer grabs you before arresting you it is an assault and you can get compensation from it.

8. If I get arrested, will it take less time if I don’t have a solicitor? It is always a good idea to have a solicitor because there are things that they do that might help you, you can speak with a solicitor on the phone within 10 minutes of asking for one and it is free of charge. Always check that the person who comes is a solicitor and not a clerk. 9. I don’t want to be locked up in a cell for hours, I am fed up and want to go home, can I leave? No, if you are arrested. Yes, if you are a person brought to the station as a PBS. A PBS is someone going to the station not arrested, meaning that you don’t have a record, you don’t get locked in the cell and you turn up by appointment. They have to do that since the 12 November 2012 unless they don’t know your name and address, unless it is necessary to prevent other people getting injured or is a very serious offence like murder. Police must consider inviting you to the police station or to come to yours at a convenient time rather than arrest you. An example of that is they come to you and then they say: you have been identified as the person who nicked something from the Co-op in such and such. If you use the words ‘I’ll come as a volunteer’, the police will give you an appointment and they don’t need to arrest you straight away, meaning that you can turn up for the appointment, sit outside and get something to read. It is useful because the number of times you are arrested keep getting recorded so if you are a person brought to the station (PBS) then you are a volunteer so you can walk out of the station at any time, you are free to go, you can do an interview but you can say: I had enough of this, I want to go now. 10. A 15 year old can be in the sex offenders list for sleeping with his 15 year old girlfriend. Yes, a couple of 15 year old kissing can get arrested for indecent assault as the law says they cannot consent but it can be brought with discretion. Zero tolerance brought by the last party and with police targets mean that all these poor chaps are being arrested for rape if they are sleeping with the girls. Because the law says she can’t consent then it must be rape. So the police give them a caution for indecent assault. If you are given a caution for sex offence, you must go to the sex offenders list. No, good news is that from 12 of November 2012 police can only arrest if it is necessary and the targets are gone. Section 24, subsection 5 Police and Evidence

Criminal Act can only arrest if it is necessary to protect the public from them or them from the public or if they don’t know their name and address, for example a fight. 11. Why there are so many people in prison for murder but never killed anyone? Joint enterprise crime is very worrying. If somebody is committing a crime and you are standing there and watching, you get down on the basis that you are involved in it because you are acting as a look up. Don’t go to watch a fight. To be guilty of murder all you have to do is to be guilty of an intention to cause serious harm, you don’t have to be guilty of intention to kill or to murder. If you are caught having a loaded gun on you, it can put you in prison for up to 2 ½ years. 12. Can I go to prison because of an ASBO? Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) section 1 makes a non-impressionable offence prisonable. Someone was given an ASBO for not wearing a hat, so the next time this person was found wearing a hat went to prison for it. When they go to court for breaching the ASBO, it is for the prosecution to prove this person has committed a crime. Wearing a hat is not a crime, you cannot commit a crime by breaking a court order, you can commit a crime if whatever is in the ASBO is a crime. Examples of crime are burglary or driving an uninsured car. 13. It is true I can’t be arrested as I’m 14? The government has brought the age of criminal responsibility down. Once

a child is 10 years old they are deemed to know the law as well as anybody. Criminal damage act 1971, it is criminal damage if either the person does something deliberately or if they do something recklessly without thinking the consequences. If for example someone is walking down the road and think can bend a ball like Beckham but if this person miskicked it and breaks a window, the person is guilty of criminal damage. The person wasn’t trying to break the window but did not stop and think of the consequences. The question is: could two 11 year old boys foreseen that that might have happen? 14. My friend’s ex-boyfriend is always checking her Facebook account, she doesn’t like it Section 111 says you are guilty of an offence of stalking if it is distressing the person as it is harassment. An example of this is checking someone’s Facebook without their permission. The person can prosecute them and could get compensation. 15. Can I be arrested if I don’t know I’m committing a crime? Lots of people commit a crime and don’t realise they are committing it. If you think you are a passenger or driver of a stolen car, then you need to get out of it quickly. Spit is an assault if it lays on to someone and you have to have an intention to do it. 16. I heard that if a pregnant woman needs to go to the loo but there aren’t any around, a police officer should offer his hat to her. It is an offence of urinating in a public place. However, if you are relieving yourself somewhere that you could be accused of murder, you should shout ’relieve’.

Strange & Fun Facts Sherlock Holmes Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Going On?

The History of Ipswich

Contents 01

Place to Visit

History of Ipswich

Strange and Fun Facts

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Going On?

On the Cover Strange & Fun Facts Sherlock Holmes Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Going On?

The History of Ipswich

Contributors ordinator

Darren Mann, VXM Project Co r Shannon Noy, Page Designe

cer Claudia Parrino, Project Offi

all topics of this On the cover is a collage of eral locations special, including map and sev ndon. in Ipsiwch and an image of Lo

ment

Tonia Wilson, Youth Engage

Eva Avrillon,Writer

Thank You! ction and wisdom, participation, produ , on ati uc ed dia me tes mo VxM pro using particularly geted at 16 to 25 year olds, foc tar es tiv tia ini n tio ina sem dis on cultural identity.

A place to visit…

Sherlock Holmes Museum

ith the Christmas time approaching, maybe you feel like running off to London… If you’re looking for a famous address in the capital, you could be interested by a visit at the 221b Bakerstreet, where one of the most famous (fictive) British figure is supposed to have lived: the great detective Sherlock Holmes. If you like the books, movies or series, you might appreciate this place. A man dressed up as a bobby gives you a quite pleasant reception, and you enter the reconstitution of a Victorian interior. The housemuseum is quite small but a great silence and reverence reign among people coming from everywhere around the world to visit the place of their favourite hero… Of course the choicest rooms of the house are, at the first floor, Holmes’ bedroom and study. The study is particularly impres-

per floors, in several rooms, you can discover different objects related to Holmes’ investigations and his several distinctions – even from the French government! – and some reconstitutions of some adventures of the detective (A Scandal in Bohemia, The Hound of the Baskervilles…) with wa x mannequins or small models. There are so many details to describe everything in one article. It just has to bee seen. Just some – small – negative points: the ticket is not particularly cheap (£6 if you’re above 16), and as the museum itself is quite small, you have to wait a few minutes outside that some people leave the place. But if you’re lucky you can ask to be taken on a picture with the Victorian policeman at the front door! The

– home decoration, hats, books, DVDs… To conclude, even if you consider Bakerstreet to be a “tourist-catcher”, it is a nice place to visit with some friends, with possibilities of good pictures and memories. Of course it is better if you enjoy Sherlock Holmes. And if you’re not to tired after your visit of the house-museum, the vicinity offers other pleasant places like Madame Tussaud’s museum and Regent Park.

The violin and the chemistry stuff of the genius, in the study…

sive, being at the same time living and dining room, laboratory for Holmes’ strange experiments… And if you ask the kind staff members will take a picture of you wearing Sherlock’s famous hat, or Watson’s bowler! On the up-

staff members – dressed up in Victorian costume! – are generally nice, helpful and smiling. The museum shop is amazing, and you can find every kind of bits and bops related to your favourite hero and his famous address

Great genius, of course… But we finally have the proof that Sherlock Holmes had (even fictive) human needs too.

A short history of When we talk about history, we immediately think of exotic great civilisations far away from here and of the story of kings in battle… But we have not to forget the places we live in have their own history too, sometimes more exciting that we think and it is closer to us. History is interesting because it allows us to know why our city looks the way it does with its local traditions and mentalities… Let’s have a time travel in Ipswich, where history can be at your doorstep… According to the archaeological data, Ipswich probably is one of the oldest cities of Great Britain and remained a relatively important place through the ages, representing a trade place and a door open on Europe. Some vestiges from the Roman Empire have been found in Ipswich area: the largest

The Ipswich Town Hall

Roman villa of Suffolk stood on Castle Hill, in the North of the modern city. A port of international significance But the town took shape in the 7th and 8th centuries: indeed, the place had an ideal situation on the route to inland British rural places, and on the estuary of the Orwell, as the North Sea became an important trade route between Britain, Scandinavian countries and Germany. So Ipswich developed as a port, around the docks, and became quite prosper by mainly exporting wool to Scandinavia and Germany. But its position ideal for trade made it vulnerable too: it was ruled by the Vikings coming from Denmark after an invasion in the year 869, before the English recaptured it in 917.

The Ipswich Museum – Before its transfer in the 1880’s, the early museum’s local is today known as… Arlington’s ballroom and restaurant! The museum initially was devoted to natural history, but the collection has enhanced. Nowadays it is a mix of natural history and local archaeology.

f Ipswich Ipswich prosperity continued to grow, and in the 11-12th centuries, an annual fair took place in the city, gathering producers and tradesmen from all East Anglia. Furthermore, two important priories – or monasteries – were founded, Holy Trinity and Saints Peter and Paul, what allowed Ipswich to become a pilgrimage place. It continued to export wool and the shipbuilding industry begun to flourish. The town gained privileged as it was awarded a Charter in 1200, which gave it the possibility of creating a local court to try the cases in Ipswich and the possibility to male inhabitant to elect the both dignitaries in charge of running the city. The migration centre In the 16th century, Ipswich became a King’s port, what gave it some trading advantages and the port remained flourishing. But the town witnessed the reformation of the Church and the religious conflicts: the king Henri VIII (Reign: 1509-1547) made several monasteries close, and several martyrs from Ipswich were burnt for their protestant beliefs under the reign of the catholic Queen Mary (1553-1558). So Ipswich became a centre of emigration to the New World in the 17th century, especially for the Puritans – a protestant movement wanting to purify Christian religion from catholic influence, and who became persecuted even by the protestant power in England because of their extreme position – who were encouraged to migrate to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Some other adventurers from

Ipswich participated in the construction of Jamestown in Virginia (the most popular dimension of Jamestown’s creation is the encounter between John Smith and Pocahontas, the daughter of a Native chief!). A modern manufacturing city In the 18th and 19th centuries, the population increased very quickly: from about 11,000 inhabitants in 1800, to 33,000 in 1851 and to 66,000 in 1900. The town became prosperous enough to create its own newspaper and to open its first theatre in the first half of the 18th century. Furthermore he conditions of life begun to improve with the creation of a body in charge of cleaning the streets which were equipped with gas light from 1818 – it is very early compared to other cities! In the course of the 19th century, Ipswich became a manufacturing centre, and different industries – iron foundries, farm machinery, cement and brick making, tobacco (the CSV building itself was a tobacco factory!), clothes – developed in the city. The port begun to lose its international significance but thanks to the boom of the national trade of coal and iron, it remained flourishing because using the coastal road whatever possible being cheaper for tradespeople than using the roads. The early Ipswich Museum was created in this period, and was devoted to the education of people in natural history. In the 20th century, the population continued to increase to reach 123,000 inhabitants in 1971, from very different origins. The city witnessed both World Wars (in 1914-1918,

03 and 1939-1945)… If you have a look on some local history books about local life during the war, you discover that Ipswich suffered two bombings from German airships called Zeppelins in 1915 and 1916… but that there was only one dead in those air raids! In the 1920’s, the city council launched a policy to clear the slums and build new houses, what was common in whole Europe in that time for social motivations. Ipswich now The constructions continued, especially in the past thirty years, giving Ipswich its current appearance and its modern building on the waterfront like the University, for instance. But more and more manufacturing industries are replaced by services industries and tourism is beginning to be significant…

It is not particularly stunning if you consider several wonderful places of Ipswich, witness of the city history. Even walking in the town centre between the Ancient House and timber houses, is a real pleasure for the eyes. They represent beautiful witnesses of the city history, and if you want to know more, you can always visit Ipswich museums… But if you’re not particularly fond of museums but interested in history, Suffolk itself is full of marvellous and picturesque places, even in small villages, and of local history society who keep history alive and which members are probably keen to share their passion! There is nothing that can be compared to history told by someone enthusiastic and interested in it! If you are looking for some interesting historical places to visit or books to read, check Ipswich Tourist Information!

The Ancient House – Originally a building of the 15th century owned by a knight, the Ancient House has been modified several times. The owner of the house in the 1660’s added the Royal Arms on the front. The house has been restored in the 1980’s.

Did you know that…?

Strange and

Nature Maybe you have heard of it: some animals try to imitate humans! In the last weeks, scientists working for the Aquarium of San Diego (California) revealed that a white whale which died a few weeks ago tried since several years to imitate human voice and did it so well that one of its carers believed the whale called him in the pool. The videos have been shared on the Internet and are really impressive! More recently, Korean scientists declared an elephant living in a zoo was able to give a reception to the zoo visitors by pronouncing some words in Korean language.

Space It is not only sci-fi… A probe called Hayabusa came back from the asteroid Itokawa, after a 7-years space journey, in June 2010! Scientists of the Japanese Space Agency had selected this project among other ones because it was not too expensive.

Paranormal Some strange facts related to some places not too far away from Ipswich have been reported… The once magnificent abbey of Bury St Edmunds is now in ruins, but it is known that during full moon nights, ghostly monks have been seen walking amidst the old walls…

Literature Although the Phantom of the Opera is a fictional character, the legend tells that every night in the Opera Garnier, in Paris, a lodge is kept free for him…

Music Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most famous classical composers of the 19th century and who wrote one of the greatest masterpieces of music history, was deaf.

What is going on? Student protest in the UK 05

On the 21th November 2012, about 10,000 students participated in a massive protest organised in London by the National Union of Students (NUS). It highlighted issues that nowadays worry students… Who and why? The NUS is a British confederation of students unions, founded in the 1920’s to defend the rights of students. Today about 95% of different unions and groups are members, and it proposes some services reserved to students and unions. In 2010 it already organised a movement to protest against education cuts and the increasing of tuition fees, but these protestations led to some violence, conflicts with the police and the occupation of the conservative party headquarters. The issues remain the same two years later for the so-called “Demo2012”, a new protest march through London, which slogan is: “Education, Empowerment, Employment”. Indeed, students are worried about their future and the costs of education, as they are not even sure to be able to pay their loans because they have difficulties to find a job during and after their studies, as the high rate of youth unemployment shows (20,4% at the beginning of November). According to the last survey released by the NUS 42% of students consider leaving their course, and a 18-20 years old student could have to work, for an ordinary salary, 34 hours a week and 52 weeks a year, to face a shortfall of more than £8,500 a year. Furthermore, the decision of the government to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) reserved to the poorest students, what could close the doors to education for young talented people without financial resources. The main targets were the government, off course, but the Liberal Democrat party too: at the last elections, the candidates committed themselves to not signing for cuts in education budget and for the increasing of tuition fees. But they broke their promises and now accused to having done it into keeping

the support of their conservative allies. So the main purpose of the Demo2012 is to ensure the equality of the access to higher education, and job opportunities for students during and after their course. Which future? In the survey that has been mentioned in the first part of the article, NUS questioned parents of young people under 18, and 62% answered that they couldn’t re-elect someone that broke his/her engagement concerning education. So education issue may make a difference for the next general election and disadvantage the Lib Dem’s and the Conservatives. But on the other hand, the news reported some tensions inside the youth movement that could be used to discredit the NUS and its members. Indeed, during the rally in Kennington Park, at the end of the march, some people of different unions who reproached him not doing enough for lower education cost have forced the leader of the NUS, Liam Burns, off the stage, singing critical chants toward the Union and throwing him eggs and fruits. That sums up the frustrations of some protesters. Indeed some of them were unsatisfied with the route that Burns agreed to organise with the police, and that avoided some conservative areas on London, weakening the symbolic impact of the march. who think that the slogan “Education, Empowerment, Employment” doesn’t offer an alternative and is not radical enough, knowing that a higher rate of dropouts is expected if nothing is done to ensure that the costs of education won’t increase and that a lack of education often means less opportunities… But at the moment, the youth movement need to show unity and to provide credible alternative solutions for students.

Child

Soldiers

Eva Avrillon

The child soldier topic remains consistent with the currency. In last May, the former Liberian president Charles Taylor was condemned for his support to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), which terrorised the population and abducted children to make them child soldiers during Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002). A few days ago, the

youngest “war criminal”, the Canadian citizen from Pakistani origin Omar Khadr was transferred to Canada to serve a prison sentence after several years in Guantanamo: he was arrested in Afghanistan in July 2002 at 15 years old, where he fought at the side of the Taliban, as he killed a US soldier in a fire fight. A lot of questions arise anew about the

responsibilities of adults and children themselves in the atrocities they commit, and the public opinion remains mixed on this question, even if it tends to consider children irresponsible. What put these children in such a situation? What are they chances to be reintegrated in society in peacetime? •

Who are child soldiers?

It is important to know what a child soldier is. According to the definition of the UNICEF, a child soldier is any person, boy or girl under 18 years being part in regular (national defence) or irregular (guerrilla group, terrorist organisation…) armed force. Last February, UNICEF estimated they were about 250 000 children involved in conflicts across the world. If the media we often have the – impressive, I must say – image of young African boys holding huge gun which are almost as big as they are. But it exists everywhere: in Africa (Uganda, Congo…), Asia (Sri Lanka, Burma, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine…), Latin America (Colombia, Bolivia) and even Europe (Chechnya, f o r m e r -Yu goslavia…). They don’t always wear a uniform and carry arms: they can be simply used as cooks, messengers, spies, bodyguards, human shield and… landmine clearers. Girls, although they can be fighting on the frontline - 40% of armed groups’ recruits in Sierra

Leone and Liberia were girls, are more likely to be used as sexual slaves or “wives” by the “officers”: there were several cases of young girls in Northern Uganda, who were abducted by members of the Lord’s Resistance Army in this purpose. The definition of child soldiers includes all these functions. •

Why do they engage in armed forces?

If the media often underline the forced engagement and the abduction of very young children (according to certain reports, 6-7 years old) into turning them into war machines, a large part of them joints the armed forces willingly. The question is: what did encourage them to engage? Even they’re not the legal age to fight, children are thinking being and are able to analyse a situation and to act according to their own interests. In politically instable countries or unsecure regions, where cheap and small automatic weapons circulate quite easily, where most of children have little access to education and few job perspectives, they feel vulnerable and perceive the engagement in armed forces as a solution to their problems. They can be sometimes orphans or have a desire of revenge toward the adverse faction, which caused harm to their families. It has been the case, for instance, in Chechnya, Pakistan, Palestine or Iraq, because these children have been good recipient to discourses promoting the revenge on the invader… Most of time the recruiters – sometimes child soldiers too – target vulnerable children, and they talk to them the way they want to be talked to at the moment. Concerning children’s abduction into making them soldiers, they often take place where a lot of children are gathered – on the streets, in schools or orphanages. •

For what reasons are they recruited?

So adults, belonging to national armies or irregular forces, have their own interests in

recruiting children. Though human history children and young teenagers sometimes replaced dead adults in wars and worked for resistance groups. But why are they used today, although the international law forbids them to take part in fights? A very cynical – but unfortunately true – advantage of recruiting children is that they are “cheaper” than adults: indeed they’re quicker and easier to train, and they don’t claim any financial reward for this. Furthermore, they’re easier to manipulate through mobilising discourses, violence, torture, neglect, rape, terror… and even drugs. According to certain reports and the declaration of former child soldiers who fought with the RUF in Sierra Leone, they were given some drugs to be excited before fighting. Some children were given strong doses and ordered to kill their families when they were high. Other tests of children when they joined the groups – it has been reported in Latin America or Africa – consisted in killing a friend, what they did in order not to be killed. Manipulated and brainwashed children, who didn’t completely develop their moral sense and their personalities, live in a permanent and trivialized violence. They become fierce and dreadful combatants, because they’re less aware of death and risks as adults, and don’t question the authority. It is the reason why these young combatants often are instrumented in the propaganda of whom they fight for – like the children throwing themselves on landmines to clear the road of soldiers during the 80’s in Iran. A last but not least, they have a devastating effect on the moral of the adversary – of course when enemy doesn’t use children: professional soldiers are generally traumatised if they have to defend themselves against a child or when they realise that a child, usually associated with innocence, is able to kill them.

•

Which consequences in their lives and in their countries?

It has huge consequences on child soldiers themselves. Psychologists agree that inflicting violence as being victim of it represent a huge traumatism for these children. They know only violence and cannot socialise normally. Most of the time, their families, because of the atrocities they committed, reject them. As for girls in traditional societies, they are rejected after that experience as they are no longer virgins and therefore, according to customs, not able to marry anymore. Furthermore, they can have had children if they have been raped or sexually exploited. Child soldiers can’t find any structure to take care of them and permit them to rebuild themselves in safe conditions. As they had no access to education during their “service”, they developed no other skills but using weapons – the youngest cannot even read. If their country is not stabilised enough, they risk reengaging in armed groups, and are more likely to be involved in gangs or prostitution. Several nongovernmental organisations try to reintegrate these children through education, to permit them to find a job and to do something for their community. It is a very long and delicate process, but children, especially the youngest, are supposed to be resilient and to have resources enough to go ahead. But they need support for it.

•

Conclusion

When you know what atrocities they took part in, you can question the responsibility of these children, especially teenagers, in all that. In my opinion, children are not stupid, if they made such a choice, it is because at the moment they thought it was in their immediate interests – to survive, as I already mentioned. Children are not capable enough, due to their young age, to make this kind of decisions and therefore don’t consider how this will affect their well-being and relationship with the whole community in the long run. They necessarily have to face what they did; some of them try to forget, because it is too awful for them to remember how they “enjoyed” fighting, as they sometimes report. I mentioned unstable regions in the world,

because nowadays, it is in general this kind of environment, which encourages youth to take the arms. But in some “developed” and stabilised countries, young people can join the army at 16-17 years old with the authorisation of their parents – a lot of them join the army as a cheaper option for training or apprenticeship, often the case in countries where studying is expensive. According to the international law they can’t be sent to the frontline before they’re 18, but errors can occur: at the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, young British of 17 years old were sent there. In Greek law, in case of a war, 17 years old people can be mobilised. And United States and Russia have their own military schools where children and teenagers are trained into joining the army later. Could we say that they chose this course and that their parents or their social environment let them any choice?

in Middle Eastern countries between hope and uncertainties Eva Avrillon Heavy metal. If you pay attention to music stereotypes, you imagine longhaired guys dressed in black, growling in a microphone, loud riffs and heavy bass’s sounds: it is only one part of heavy metal, off course. “Metalheads” have often a negative image. Nowadays, their music is no more targeted by censorship in European countries and in North America. But in several Middle-Eastern countries, where heavy metal music becomes more and more popular, it still disturbs. Musicians and even fans sometimes risk their freedom and life.

• Some specificities of “MiddleEastern” heavy metal We can’t deny the Western influence in the introduction of heavy metal in the Middle East: at the origins, in the late 1980’s, some students who had passed one year or more in Western universities brought back music on tapes, or some young people could obtain music from foreign connexions.

But Middle-Eastern metalheads don’t only reproduce what they heard from foreign countries: they have been able to adapt heavy metal to the regional musical sensibilities by mixing electric guitar and bass with traditional instruments (like Israeli band Orphaned Land, in my opinion a brilliant mix that I am just discovering) or by devoting their songs to Middle-Eastern mythology (Jordan band Tyrant Thrown). A strong criticism against traditional and patriarchal values exist in Middle Eastern heavy metal, and some bands are beginning to criticise Muslim religious establishment (the black metal band Janaza in Iraq) and religious extremist movements, just as Western bands criticised Christianity, what makes them one of even moderate Islamists’ targets in Middle East. But what makes heavy metal so dangerous for the authorities of some Middle Eastern countries? In the past few years, heavy metal attracted more and more young people, which percentage is exploding in the population of these countries. Consequently the potential of questioning social and political order is becoming higher… So, what is the situation of metalheads in these countries?

• Different countries, different situations Some scholars have begun to be interested in heavy metal as a cultural and political phenomenon, and according to them, the situation of heavy metal musicians and fans in Middle East reflects the state of the liberty of expression. The situation is extremely different from one to another. Some are relatively liberal, like Turkey, Israel, and even United Arab Emirates (UAE). Concerning other countries, people are often ill-informed by the media spread very strange rumours about musicians’ pacts with the Devil… when they’re not depicted as delinquents. So some people believe that heavy metal is an aggression to the Arab and to the Muslim identities, and bands have difficulties to book their concerts in their own countries. This has been the case in Egypt, for instance: some Islamist groups in the opposition used the heavy metal in the media to show people that current leaders were unable to protect the youth from dark and evil influences – even if these groups had similar aspirations (social justice, more expression freedom) as the metalheads. The

situation has improved, but musicians or fans have been arrested in the last years, and are still object of police’s harassment in some Egyptian cities. More worrying is the situation in Iran, Saudi Arabia and now Iraq. In both first countries, where religion has a strong presence in the public sphere, governmental organs monitor the diffusion of music to be sure that it will respect Islamic laws. Editing music and organizing a concert demands a lot of administrative procedures that discourage some musicians, who diffuse their music online for free. In Iran, heavy metal remains underground, with the organization of illegal concerts. Fans and artists can be arrested by the police or worse. In Iraq, bands had to struggle with American occupation, war, suicide attacks, and the rising of radical Islamism. So the leader of the black metal band Janaza fears for her life because of her criticism against religion.

Award from an advisor of the Turkish Prime Minister, awarding their efforts to encourage collaborations with Arab and Muslim artists. Indeed Orphaned Land has a big fan community beyond Israel, in different Middle Eastern countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and even Iran, gathering Jews, Muslims and Christians. Singing in English, Hebrew and Arabic, they refer on Quran, New Testament and Torah in their lyrics, and they produced themselves and recorded some tracks with Arab and Muslim artists. They succeed where diplomacy and politics failed; they created a united community around music and values what allows Arab and Jews to communicate beyond the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

• Is heavy-metal working for peace in the Middle East?

As we have seen, there are in Middle East reasons for being both optimistic and worried about heavy metal future. The Arab revolts since the end of 2010 constitute an opportunity for changes in some countries, especially in society and culture. Even some regimes remain repressive toward heavy metal music; there are still new ways to have access to the music through the internet. But changes have difficulties to emerge, and the rise of Islamist parties, begins

But if heavy metal’s capacity of uniting very different people disturbs some governments and extremist movements, it has recently been awarded. While Israel relation to its Arab neighbours is still tenser and the peace process with Palestine seems blocked, the Israeli band Orphaned Land received in last February, the Friendship and Peace

• Conclusion: Which future for heavy-metal in the MiddleEast?

to worry young people, especially girls. In such a background, heavy metal, and other groups which are associated with it in the public opinion, are still perceived as the sign of evil influences, of sexual perversion because boys and girls stand together at concerts while men and women are never mixed… Young emos, almost kids, have recently been massacred in Iraq for the same motives. So the future remains uncertain and unsecure for metalheads in Middle-East. For these reasons I think – and not only because I quite like this kind of music – that we, not only Western metal fans but music lovers in general, have to listen to and to share what these artists do. They take so many risks that what they say deserves at least to be heard once. I want to pay tribute for them by sharing this song of Orphaned Land – even they’re not in the most insecure situation – with you: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=LAGV67gDq4c

Polish and Proud! We are a group of proud Polish girls who meet every week at CSV to come together as a group and discuss issues. Through the sessions we have looked at building our confidence through exploring and identifying our strengths and what makes up our personalities.

We had a Photo shoot where we had our photos taken without any makeup, so we could see how the natural look was beautiful. We have also experimented with fantasy makeup and undertaken a fashion photo shoot.

We are working towards building our confidence so we can appear as models in a fashion show at the town hall. Over the next few weeks, we will be practising our walk and balancing books on our heads!

What I do with the Prince’s Trust Chantelle Well, the first thing I did with the Prince’s Trust was in an interview. I talked about what I would like to, hobbies, and what I am looking to achieve out of it. Some people think the Prince’s Trust 12 week course are for fun but they are not. It’s about how to get along, as a group of young people, build self-confidence up and hopefully get a job out of it when it is all finished. The first week, we were outside getting to know our group by passing a ball or a pen and say your team members’ names and the type of music we are into, pass it to the another person and say their name. They have rules, like be on time, and tell you what you will be doing on that day. On the second week, I went to Romford for activities to build our fear and confidence, get along with team members and learn to listen to others when they are speaking. On the third week, we spoke about how well we did at Romford, we also did posters and worked in groups as a way of learning how to communicate and work well as a team. On the fourth week, we went to Woodbridge to do some volunteering at a community centre. We decorated it, so it looks better, others can use it more and feel better. The weather was wet and cold and we worked hard as a team: we listened to each other and planned. We did well and made a big difference in the community centre. Part of the 12 week course at the Prince’s Trust is to do 2 weeks work experience as a way of getting to know other people and achieve something out of it. When it is finished, we write about the activities we did, do a presentation in front of people to say how we did and what we have achieved out of the whole experience.

One day you can hear Pablo McSheen (22), a.k.a. Lion I, playing some authentic Jamaican beat and the next minute a funky house beat. This local musician who is well known for his ability to interpret different musical styles without altering his own- a mixture of underground with commercial, is putting himself out there, with a down to earth, reality-based message. Born and bred in Ipswich, more specifically in Chantry estate, Pablo visited us at the VXM HQ and told us what is going on in the life of Lion I. Life is all about growing up, learning, living; my music is inspired by reality. Right now

The new season is arriving within a few weeks. Soon I am writing about friends, we will say goodbye to the those who you are associated pleasant temperature and with, even fakehello friends to and the lower and enemies. I am singing about gray one.

life experiences as real.

For the next fall/winter the

trends are for all tastes, so no excuse to stay out. To help you get the perfect look we spoke with different beauty experts around Ipswich about their personal choices for the next season.

Collaborations are to gather, at my stage, more followers than fans. I recently had collaboration with Jade Peters, Jacky’s cool Far Away and it is getting played on the radio now and in the clubs in Ipswich. The whole idea is to bring two different sounds together, or may be two of the same sounds together. In this case, Jade and I, have two different styles that were brought together. Pablo is also an active memOliver Haldon, 20, Sales Assistant at Internacionale

Chelsy, 20, Manager at Claire’s

Must have: punk and all hippie looks One essential: something wormed, maybe a jumper Can’t live without: my jacket

Best accessories: leg warmers Must have: colorful headphone One essentials: Blush pallet

ber of the Black Forum- which is about trying to give a message across. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important because it is a chance for us to get together, and talk about certain issues that affect young black people such as how the police deal with us, how difficult it is maybe for a young black person to be different. Basically the Black Forum is about targeting certain issues and discussing them in a safe environment.

VxM and Culture Cook are

We will cook dinner for you and 5 of your mates. You bring the friends, an empty stomach and the willingness to learn. We’ll bring the chef, the food and the equipment. While we cook, we teach! Every week a new culture cuisine. Every week a new home. - For 16 to 25 year olds. For more information please contact: Claudia at cparrino@csv.org.uk • 01473 418034 Darren at dmann@csv.org.uk • 01473 418028