The Persepective magazine Christmas 2014 by Stephen Perse Foundation

Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, They're here. The Christmas holidays have finally arrived, and our present to you is this magazine...what more could you possible want, right? We've worked really hard on this issue, and we hope you enjoy reading it. Our work, as the Publications committee, is focused around journalism as a method of pushing boundaries, creating new discussions, and we hope that this comes through in this issue. Some of the key ideas coursing through this issue include those of censorship, freedom fighting and of course, Christmas! Highlights include us heading down to Mrs Wall's oďŹ&#x192;ce, to get to know her a little better, and if you turn to page 60 , you'll find out exactly which books to buy this New Year! Our stunning cover art was put together by Hattie Bates to link with our spotlight article on womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bodies and rights, who also wrote the punk article you'll find on the next page. As ever, we'd love to hear from you, so let us know what you think or send us articles at spfpublications@gmail.com. Here's to an incredible New Year and student journalism! Best wishes, Zehra Munir (Chairman of the Publications Committee) Elanor Brooks (Editor of the Persepective)

CONTENTS 1. real anarchists wouldn’t have a title-hattie bates. 2. Drones and Democracy-Humeira Iqtidar 3. (History Fact File) Che Guevara 4. Millie’s Christmas Recipes-Millie Fordham 5. Unexplained Events-Sophia Gonella 6. Free the Nipple-A Just Cause?-Chloe Chiy and Siobhan Pebody 7. A Brief Look at Malawi’s Former Female President-Dasha Scanalan-Oumow 8. (Review) Chicago-Imogen Kaldor 9. Art and Censorship-Ben Keeble 10. Agony Aunt 11. Origami History-Olivia Staﬀord 12. Kylie and Global Citizens- Imogen Kaldor 13. (Review) Taylor Swift’s 1989- Zehra Munir 14.2015: The Books to Read- The Publications Team 15. Negative News- Siobhan Pebody 16. Your Guide to the Perfect Christmas- Alex Fice 17. Mrs Wall- Teacher Profile- Zehra Munir 18. The Aftermath of the Scottish Referendum- Poppy Robertson 19. Christmas DIY- Ellie Smalwood 20. Photography- Hannah De Almeida Newton

real anarchists wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a title.

punk

Punk first reared its studded head in the

noun

The Ramones, The Stooges and The Sex

early 1970s, with the rise of bands like Pistols; the title of the first genuine rock

1. a loud, fast-moving, and aggressive

band is highly disputed. The movement

form of rock music, popular in the late

closely associated itself with anarchism

1970s.

(a political and philosophical movement

"punk had turned pop music and its attendant culture on its head"

which seeks liberation from the oppressive systems of control, i.e. the state, racism, sexism and capitalism), and was

2. a worthless person (often used as a

therefore appealed to young peoplewho

general term of abuse).

felt they had 'no future'. The rise of punk bands was accompanied by a rise in

"you think any of these punks they got

punk fashion, lead famously by Vivienne

fighting today could stand up to Joe

Westwood and her collaboration with

Louis?"

The Sex Pistols. It is said, however that as soon as punk leaked into the main-

stream pop culture, the movement died and the point was defeated.

There's no future, no future, No future for you (The Sex Pistols, God Save The Queen) Perhaps the most talked about punk band of the punk era are the Sex Pistols- made up of Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Glen Matlock, Paul Cook and Steve Jones. They were active from 1975-78, and provided the uk with an enormous source of controversy; often dividing opinion between teen-

The Sex Pistols were an English punk

agers and the older generations. Their mu-

rock band that formed in London in 1975

sic, vinyl covers and advertisements were subject to an immense amount of censor-

God save the queen

ship, and production of the sleeve for God Save The Queen was very nearly refused,

The fascist regime They made you a moron

as workers on the production line were so oďŹ&#x20AC;ended by the graphics. Released to coincide with the queens silver jubilee, the

Potential H-bomb

band performed The single on a boat go-

God save the queen

Parliament and Westminster Pier, as a

She ain't no human being There is no future In England's dreaming

ing down the Thames past the Houses of mockery of the planned Jubilee celebrations planned two days later. This, however, ended on chaos, with the police forcing the boat to dock and many arrests of the bands entourage being arrested- including Vivienne Westwood. This, how

Don't be told what you want Don't be told what you need

ever, was all part of the appeal of the

ment—just about everybody was on strike.

band, as it oﬀered the frustrated youth a

Everybody was brought up with an educa-

way of rebelling against the adult world.

tion system that told you point blank that if

During the 70s there was high unemploy-

you came from the wrong side of the

ment and discontent among the working

tracks...then you had no hope in hell and

classes- and punk became the voice pro-

no career prospects at all.'

moting change, and better prospects for

Anarchism The belief in the abolition of all government and the organisation of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without recourse to force or compulsion.

Vivienne Westwood-the renowned fashion designer traces her roots to

Anarchism is the political belief that

the punk rock movement.

society should have no government.

everyone. When describing the circumstances that bought the band together, Johnny Rotten said:

Anarchism and its ideals were channeled into Punk, as anarchism appeared to oﬀer a total solution to the problems of the work-

'Early Seventies Britain was a very depress-

ing class youths attracted by Punk. It of-

ing place. It was completely run-down with

fers a classless and equal society (much

trash on the streets, and total unemploy-

like socialism), except that anarchism goes on to oﬀer a totally leaderless society, in 6

clean culture of the 1970's, that shocked the public at the time. It makes me wonder what will be the next teenage rebellion in our popular culture to emerge from the times, and whether anything like this will shock us anymore. By Hattie Bates which each person lives under no rules or guidelines, and has no form of unwanted leadership imposed on them. This seems, on the surface, like a society in which perfect happiness can be achieved, however it seems also somewhat unattainable. Ever since humans have organized themselves Into groups in caves, there were those born to be leaders and those born to be water carriers. Each of equal value but each with its commitments and guidelines, set down in order for the role to be fulfilled, and so as it helps the civilization to progress, and the citizens lives to run smoothly. With leadership taken away, however, I struggle to see how life as we have come to know it would continue, and with no-one to do the menial and boring labour, we would be left with a country of leaders. This, as you can imagine, would soon cause problems- perhaps explaining why the 'anarchy' has the connotation it does. In conclusion, Punk was perhaps nothing more than a comment on the squeaky-

DRONES AND DEMOCRACY

Imagine how it would feel to be hit by a

government, requires careful public debate

bomb inside your home when your country

and discussion.

is not openly at war with another one. This is how drones, or remote piloted planes with the capability to drop bombs, have been used in the last few years. They are often presented as a technological advancement in war machinery that help spread democracy without a high human cost. The truth could not be farther from this, and the increased use of drones by the US government, but also by the UK

Let us take the two aspects of the argument in support of drones separately. The first is that the drones allow targeted strikes and therefore minimize the human cost of warfare. This argument is deeply flawed as the use of drones in Pakistan, Yemen and Afghanistan over the last 8 years has shown. The accuracy of drone hits is only as good as the human intelligence- or information obtained through 8

spying- on the ground.

For instance, ac-

death penalty? And when we think about

cording to the widely acclaimed and cited

who is labeled terrorist, by whom and for

Stanford/NYU report published in 2013,

what purposes, it would be useful to re-

2,562 or 3,325 people were killed by drone

member that successive British govern-

strikes in Pakistan between June 2004 and

ments had branded Nelson Mandela as a

mid-September 2012; between 474 and

terrorist. Given the complexities of the

881 of those were ci-

situation on the

vilians, and 176 were

ground, drones are at

children. The num-

best a blunt instru-

bers shift because of

ment.

lack of on the ground

The human cost to

follow up, but from

the invading armies

testimonies recorded

is certainly less since

by Reprieve and oral

drones don’t need pi-

histories from refu-

lots or crew who

gees collected by my research team, there can be little doubt that from one third to almost half of the people hit by drone attacks were civilians. The trauma of being attacked within the comfort of your home when there is no open declaration of war remains even for those who survive such

could potentially be shot down by the opposing side. However, this mode of attacking from afar does not mean that pilots who operate drones to drop bombs in Afghanistan from the comfort of their oﬃces in Virginia do not suﬀer from post-traumatic stress. Perhaps the re-

attacks.

ported psychological pressure of killing oth-

More critically, we cannot be sure if the

danger only confirms the humanity of the

other half really merited a death penalty.

drone operators.

Drone attacks are the equivalent of a death penalty without trial. Based on inherently limited and flawed intelligence, drone attacks foreclose any possibility of confirming guilt. Do all persons aﬃliated with groups identified as terrorist deserve a

ers without putting themselves in direct

The second major justification made for the use of drones is that it is an eﬀective tool for the spread of democratic values. In part this claim rests on the assumption that all those in need of being taught demo-

cratic values cannot carry out retaliatory

Therefore, it is imperative that we widen

drone attacks. Thus, there are no drone at-

out the debate about drones at the same

tacks against Russia or North Korea, other

time as tightening the focus on the people

possible recipients of democratic values,

who are impacted most directly by them. Research carried out by groups such as the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Human Rights group Reprive has brought home the enormous toll that the use of drones has taken on innocent lives as well as democratic institutions in both the invading countries, such as US, and invaded ones, such as Pakistan. In both countries democratic decision making, public debate and transparent policy mak-

but who do have drone capability.

ing have been eschewed for the sake of ex-

More critically, the very fact that drones

identification, names and aﬃliations of the

seem to not commit national armies to

people awarded the death penalty by

combat in alien lands - or ‘boots on the

drone strikes.

ground’- has allowed governments, particularly the US government, significant leeway in bypassing democratic debate in Senate and Congress. And this is where the damage that drones cause to democratic checks and balances on military operations comes into play. Just because drones do not commit soldiers on the ground there is little institutional incentive to thinking through political solutions. Assuming guilt and awarding the death pen-

pediency. At the very least we need public

This weakening of democratic decisionmaking quite apart from the human loss and suﬀering that ready use of drones brings about, mean that we as citizens have important questions to ask about the wars being carried out in our names. Contributing author; Dr Humeira Iqtidar, who is a lecturer at King’s College, London.

alty is just too convenient.

(History Fact File) Che Guevara studying medicine at Buenos Aires University, Che became politically aware and read widely, which led to his interest in Marxist writings. In 1954 he travelled to Mexico and the following year he met Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Guevara joined Castro's '26th July Movement', Have you seen a photo of this man on a

playing a key role in the eventual success

poster, a t shirt, a book, and felt a little

of its guerrilla war against Cuban dictator

ashamed? A little embarrassed, because

Fulgencio Batista. Batista represented all

you don't know who he is? Never fear, for

that this communist movement was fight-

Che Guevara is about to be discussed with

ing against, being a corrupt, capitalist

you.

leader who had allowed America to turn

Who?- The Communist (communism be-

Cuba into it's playground. The majority of Cuban people were living in extreme pov-

ing the political ideology derived from the

erty, and awful conditions, which meant

writings of Karl Marx, based on the idea

that their support for Castro and Che was

that services such as health care and edu-

immense. 1959 was the year in which Cas-

cation should be nationalised and available

tro overthrew Batista and from 1959-1961,

to everyone, and that everyone should re-

Guevara was president of the National

ceive what they need.) revolutionary who

Bank of Cuba, followed by a term as minis-

helped bring about the Cuban Revolution,

ter of industry. In this position, he travelled

Che Guevara became a hero of the left dur-

the world as an ambassador for Cuba. At

ing his years as a revolutionary, and be-

home, he carried out plans for land redistri-

came an international figure after his tragic

bution and the nationalization of industry.

murder by the CIA. Che was born Ernesto

Che was loved by the Cubans for his cha-

Guevara de la Serna, on June 14, 1928, in

risma and his passion, and his intense love

Rosario, Argentina. He later became aďŹ&#x20AC;ec-

of his people and the Communist move-

tionately known as Che, which means

ment meant that he and Castro, with their

friend in Spanish-Argentinian slang. Whilst

combined charm, were extremely successxi

ful in leading the revolution. During the

media circulated was that Che had been

1960s, Che expressed a desire to help

killed on the orders of the Bolivian Presi-

spread Comintern (international Commu-

dent.

nism) and he left Cuba with this aim, in 1965.

He was in Bolivia, attempting to

help overthrow the government of René Barrientos Ortuño. With US CIA

assis-

When?- (1928 - 1967) Where?- Born in Rosario, Argentina

tance, the Bolivian army captured Guevara

Partners- Aleida March (m. 1959–1967)

and his remaining fighters. Guevara was

and Hilda Gadea (m. 1955–1959)

killed, and became an iconic cultural hero, who's views and achievements are still discussed and debated . It was only later that it was discovered that the death of Che

Che helped Fidel Castro bring about the Cuban Revolution. was an intricately planned CIA scheme, and at the time, the major story which the

xii

MILLIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHRISTMAS RECIPES

Millie's Chocolate Orange Brownies:

Ingredients

One of the easiest and most popular rec-

75g unsalted butter

ipe's I make are these brownies with a twist of orange, to get things into the festive mood. Best eaten when still gooey from out of the oven, but easiest cut when

175g caster sugar 2 eggs

cooled.

100g plain chocolate

Prep time: 10 mins

1/4 teaspoon of salt

Bake time: 35 mins DiďŹ&#x192;culty level: super easy

75g self raising power Zest of an orange

50g chocolate chips (my favorites are

chocolate. These remind me of a more so-

Terry's or white chocolate)

phisticated version of gingerbread and make for a fantastic cheap, Christmas pre-

1. Grease a 20 cm square tin and turn the

sent when put in a bag and tied with a

oven up to 180°C (160°C fan) gas 4.

bow!

2. Melt the butter, orange zest and choco-

Prep time: 20 mins

late in a sauce pan over a low heat whilst stirring.

Bake time: 12-15 mins

3. Remove the pan from the heat and add

Diﬃculty level: easy- medium (depending

the caster sugar, stir in and then leave to

on if you want to temper the chocolate)

cool. 4.

Mix in the eggs quickly (to avoid

cooked lumps) and sift the flour with the salt and mix them in until the mixture is smooth. 5. Pour the mixture into a baking tray and then sprinkle on the chocolate chips and push them in. 6. Bake the brownies for about 35 minutes and then cool in the tin before cutting (although they are delicious when warm

Ingredients 85g ground almonds

they'll make a mess if you cut them fresh out the oven).

2 tsp ground ginger

Lebkuchen: (adapted from BBC Good

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Food recipe) A traditional German Christmas biscuit, filled with festive spices of ginger, nutmeg,

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 200ml clear honey

cloves and cinnamon and then dipped in

1 lemon, finely grated zest

4.To ice the biscuits, mix together the icing sugar, egg white and 1-2 tbsp water to

85g butter pinch each ground cloves, grated nutmeg and black pepper

form a smooth, runny icing. Dip the top of the biscuit in chocolate and leave to cool. By Millie Fordham

1 tsp baking powder For the icing and chocolate coating 100g icing sugar 1 egg white, beaten 200g plain chocolate 1.

Sift all the dry ingredients into a large

bowl. 2.

Melt the butter with the honey and the

lemon over a low heat then pour into the flour mixture. Mix well until the dough is combined. Cover and leave to cool. 3. Heat oven to 180째C (fan160째C)gas 4. Using your hands, roll dough into about 30 balls, each 3cm wide, then flatten each one into a disk of about half of the height. Divide the biscuits between two baking trays lined with baking parchment, leaving room for them to expand. Bake for 12-15 mins, then cool on a wire rack.

UNEXPLAINED EVENTS Is it ever possible to explain the unexplainable? As humans (and especially students from the Stephen Perse Foundation), we simply hate the unknown. So here are a few of the unexplainable yet intriguing events that continue to puzzle many. Mohenjo-daro - The ancient site of one of the biggest Indus Valley civilizations has evidence to suggest that its population was killed by the explosion of an atomic bomb around 1500 BCE. Numerous skeletons were found, many holding hands and archaeologists believe that this occurred during a single cataclysmic event. There are also claims about radioactivity levels in

Baghdad Battery - This is the common name for a number of artefacts created in Mesopotamia, during the Parthian or Sassanid periods 250 BC - AD 250. The copper and iron within the artefacts form an electrochemical couple so that, in the presence of any electrolyte, a voltage will be produced, suggesting that they may have been galvanic cells. There have been additional observations of a number of very

the area, ranging from radioactive dust covering the entire city, to the bodies themselves being "among the most radioactive ever found, on par with those at Hiroshima and Nagasakiâ&#x20AC;?. Although one theory suggests an atomic bomb, it is very unlikely, and this leaves us to wonder: what really happened? fine silver objects from ancient Iraq that were plated with very thin layers of gold, and this lead to speculations that they

were electroplated using batteries with

brother and sister possessed green-

these as the cells. Despite this, some scien-

coloured skin and spoke in an unknown

tists disagree with this theory and say that

language. Initially, the only food they would

experiments only show that it was physi-

eat was beans, but eventually they learned

cally possible, but do not confirm that this

to eat other food and lost their green pal-

actually occurred. Could this have been

lor. The brother became ill and died whilst

the first cell to have been produced? If not,

his sister adjusted to her new life and once

what was it used for?

she had she learned English, she ex-

The Green Children of Woolpit - The leg

plained that she and her brother had come from St Martin's Land, an underground world whose inhabitants are green. However, various theories suggest that it is either a folk tale or a garbled historical event.

By Sophia Gonella

The eerie story of the Green Children of Woolpit contributes to the tourism of this area. end concerns two children of unusual skin colour who, in the 12th century, reportedly appeared in the village of Woolpit in Suffolk, 7 miles from Bury St Edmunds. The

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;FREE THE NIPPLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; - A JUST CAUSE? Illustration - Fashion editorial from THE FACE magazine July 1990 Photography by Mario Testino & Artwork by Keith Haring

Illustration - Collage from THE FACE magazine by Hattie Bates

An Introduction to the Free The Nipple

other social networking site to express her

Campaign - Chloe Chiy

disapproval of this and turned to Twitter. On Twitter, she first posted a picture of her

Within the first half of 2014, the issue of fe-

walking shirtless in New York, (men and

male censorship in the media has risen dra-

women are allowed to be shirtless in New

matically. Stars like Rihanna and Miley Cy-

York) purchasing flowers with a caption

rus have supported the cause in 2013,

which stated that it was wrong that it was

which is named Free the Nipple. However,

legal in New York for her to be topless, yet

very recently, both Rihanna and Scout Wil-

Instagram objected to it. Later, she posted

lis (daughter of stars Bruce Willis and Demi

several photos on her Twitter account of

Moore) have had their accounts on Insta-

people on Instagram selling both drugs

gram, an app designed to share photos,

and guns, claiming that it was ridiculous

deleted for excessive nudity. Scout Willis

that the woman's body was censored and

retaliated to this, by reopening her ac-

punished but this was not. And she is not

count, but Instagram shut it down within

the only one who is a victim of Instagram's

minutes. Then, she decided to utilize an-

sexism, Petra Collins, another supporter of 18

the Free the Nipple campaign, had her account removed for posting a photo of her in a bikini, with pubic hair visible. With ease, you can search though Instagram and find men with pubic hair on the waistband of their swimsuits but as Petra stated in her post-Instagram-account-removal essay, 'Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m used to being told by society that I must regulate my body to fit the norm.' As this becomes a larger and more important issue it is very important that you come to your own personal conclusion on how both social networking sites and governments should respond to the fact that most men are allowed and would be comfortable walking around shirtless. The fact that most women would he uncomfortable with walking shirtless does not constitute as a reason to make it law. Take a look at the following quotes to help you come to a decision on whether you believe that it is acceptable for the female body to be criminalized and censored online or when spending time outside the house.

Rihanna is an ardent supporter of the Free the Nipple campaign â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I know having a social media profile removed is a 21st century privileged problem â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but it is the way a lot of us live. These pro-

'It is illegal for women to go topless in

files mimic our physical selves and a lot of

most cities, yet you can buy a magazine of

the time are even more

a woman without their top on at any 7-11

important...Through this removal I really felt

store. So, you can sell breasts, but you can-

how strong of a distrust and hate we have

not wear breasts, in America.'

towards female bodies. The deletion of my account felt like a physical act, like the pub-

~ Violet Rose

lic coming at me with a razor, sticking their finger down my throat, forcing me to cover

up, forcing me to succumb to societies im-

institutions, and which conservatives re-

age of beauty.'

gard as intrinsically morally wrong.'

~ Petra Collins

~Edward N. Zalta

'Topfreedom supporters carry a simple

To find out more about the Free the Nipple

message: any right a man has, a woman

cause, you can look at their Twitter and

should also have. Therefore, any situation

website but very surprisingly, they have no

in which it is legal for a man to be topless,

Instagram!

a woman should also be allowed to be topless...There is no defensible reason for

A look at the reasoning behind the cam-

it. If topless women become as common-

paign:

place as topless men, we will become desensitized to them and it would have the potential to curve the hyper-sexualization of women. To claim that a nipple is morally oﬀensive is the result of a lingering hangover from the standards of a puritanical society and it’s about time we all had some orange juice and toast.'

The Free The Nipple campaign is seen by some as an excellent way to radically change the way women's bodies are viewed in society and the media. It's seen as opportunity to bring women more freedom and equality, in terms of being able to do what they wish with their bodies and it also symbolizes a move for greater equal-

~ Aaron Warwick

ity in general.

'According to conservatives, the sexually

One of the reasons many oppose the cam-

explicit content...is an aﬀront to decent

paign could be argued as one of the

family and religious values and deeply of-

strongest arguments for it. The idea of a

fensive to a significant portion of citizens

woman being completely topless is seen

who hold these values. The consumption

as provocative by many but it should also

of pornography is bad for society. It under-

be noted that bared legs and ankles used

mines and destabilizes the moral fabric of a

to be considered more risqué than bared

decent and stable society, by encouraging

breasts and that has changed drastically in

sexual promiscuity, deviant sexual prac-

the last couple of centuries. Bared breasts

tices and other attitudes and behaviour

are nothing new, look at any classical

that threaten traditional family and religious

statue and breasts are hardly the most

Objectification of women in the media is a common problem. Does topfreedom mean reclaiming our bodies? scandalous piece of anatomy on show.

help reduce street harassment, sexual as-

Later on in the 15th to the 17th centuries

sult and rape, and everyday sexism. It's im-

women from all classes wore dresses ex-

possible to say we don't have a problem

posing their breasts completely, from com-

when a photo of a mother breastfeeding

moners to queens such as Queen Mary II.

her newborn was taken down from Face-

A particularly poignant argument for less censorship of women's bodies is that we need to stop the perception that women's bodies are sexual objects. Ultimately it should be recognized that a woman's body is her own and she can display or cover it as she wishes. As a society we need to have much healthier view of what is sexual and provocative and this could

book on the grounds that it was "pornographic". This scene is the most natural in the world, but because it contained a breast, performing the very function it has evolved to do, it was seen as sexual and inappropriate. If women's bodies were stopped being viewed as sexual objects and instead as an equal to those of men's, studies have suggested rape rates would decrease. 21

Another problem with our society that relaxed censorship could help solve is the suggestion that nipples, as a part of the female body, are distasteful for casual viewing. Is this healthy for young girls to be told thier bodies are not fit to be seen? While women typically bare more thigh than men in western culture, if a man were to wear very short shorts it would not be shocking or procacative in the same it would be for a woman to take her top oﬀ on a hot day like men do. This is the very problem we are dealing with. Why the double standard? Why are women's bodies seen as inherently more sexual than men's and how can we change this? In essence male nipples are much the same as female nipples with the exception that female nipMiley Cyrus’ risqué outfits often have the

ples are attached to breasts, and breasts,

tabloids buzzing. But is she wearing them

our society has decided, are sexual.

for the political statement, or for the attenWe should remember that we are reading I tion? this in Britain, which while being rather Is it not strange that when a man takes oﬀ forward-thinking and society here allows his top it's because he's too hot but when

women to voice their opinions much

a woman does it it's seen as because she

louder than in other countries, we are not

wants to show oﬀ, be provocative. Correct

used to seeing bare breasts. Even just

me if I'm wrong but women feel heat the

across the channel, the french and the

same way as men and this is just one

Spanish are much more open and comfort-

more example of how sexualised women's

able showing expensed breasts if not in

breasts and bodies are.

public, but at least on the beach. It's not so unusual.

In response to the Free The Nipple cam-

fully support the Free The Nipple cam-

paign:

paign doesn't mean everyone would be happy if they were to achieve everything

It's important to remember that there are

they hope to and other people's feelings

two sides to every argument, and the argu-

and views should be considered; espe-

ment for female nipples to be free from

cially in a debate as subjective and opinion-

censorship is no diďŹ&#x20AC;erent. The debate is

ated as this.

surrounded by a dark and murky swamp of emotive and heated opinions, views on

Religion and the varied opinions and rules

what is proper, traditional ideas versus

diďŹ&#x20AC;erent faiths have play an important part

modern ideas and, our old friend, political

in this debate, making it very sensitive and

correctness. Anything which challenges val-

passionate. For some religions, humility is

ues which have existed in our society, and

hugely central to the behavior expected of

those around the globe, for over a milenia

women, so baring nipples would be out of

is going to be a hotly contended subject.

the question for these people. Many areas insist on and many women themselves

Asking people what is right and accept-

choose to wear a hijab or burqa as they

able is always going to be fraught with dis-

feel it is what they want to do and believe

agrreements, especially in a society as di-

is right for them to do, we should always

verse and interconnected as ours is today.

respect what all members of our society

People from literally hundreds of back-

may find appropriate and acceptable. In-

grounds, cultures and religions with thou-

deed many employers today will tell you

sands of diďŹ&#x20AC;erent traditions, views and

that a good outfit for an interview should

rules on the roles, behavior and dress of

cover shoulders and no skirt should be

women. To many of those people, includ-

above the knee. It's is understandable that

ing women, the idea of a woman baring

seeing women's nipples could be too

her breasts completely or seeing female

much.

nipples without any kind of covering in a magasine may be a very uncomfortable

With the interconnected nature of our

one and it's important to remember this as

world we should be very cautious about

members of our society push for more and

making changes to censorship laws or cus-

more freedom and less censorship. Just

toms as on sites such as Instagram and

because you yourself may be happy to

world news channels, the images would

be viewable to an audience platform which

women's safety everywhere to retain cen-

may not agree to the changes. It would be

sorship of women's nipples?

insensitive and frankly not right to impose a change in such a way if a significant sector of our global community opposes it. Our western society can often be extremely fast paced, ready to overturn cen-

We should think about what it is the Free The Nipple campaign actually wants to achieve and why. Revolutionary ideas and new ways of thinking about things are in

turies worth of tradition, and to more conservative cultures this could be an enormously upsetting and unwelcome concept. It could be argued that due to the fact female nipples have been sexualized for so long that they are now seen as provocative, they will continue to be seen as such

Social media has revolutionized the

and should be censored. Obviously this is

way we share photos. This can be prob-

a debatable argument and I'm playing dev-

lematic for those with children or diďŹ&#x20AC;er-

ils advocate here, but is there a valid point

ent beliefs.

in there? Because of this longstanding way of looking at female nipples have we cemented their place as a part of the female body which is private and so should not been seen in everyday society? Should we just accept that our nipples are a part of our body which should be kept to ourselves? Also, might this mindset that nipples are sexual aspects of a woman's body, lead to problems with unwanted male attention and sexual assult. With rape rates rising rapidly would it not be in the interests of

fashion these days, people want to make statements and they want people to notice them. Surrounded by this as we are, it is easy to think sometimes that people just want to say or start something interesting, is this one of those times? However the underlying response most people have to this campaign is the reiteration of the need for sensitivity concerning other people's views and comfort zones, some people don't think it's right and others are worried about what this may pave the way for in the future and what their children may see as a result. All are valid con-

cerns and should be treated as such when

Any opinions expressed may not be the

discussing this issue

writers' personal belief. We have aimed to

As this is an ongoing debate, and will continue to be for many years, there are a huge number of opinions which should all

discuss all sides of the argument to ensure that no oďŹ&#x20AC;ense is caused. By Siobhan Pebody.

be considered. We hope this extended look at a very current campaign has broadened your knowledge somewhat and got you interested in this and other topical social issues. It's important to be aware of discussions going on which aďŹ&#x20AC;ect you either now or in the future, as a woman in our society. Regardless of your opinion, the best thing you can take from this is to be comfortable, don't feel pressurized to

Emma Watsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech about feminism

act in a way or talk about things which you

is available online, for those interested.

don't feel comfortable doing. Remember that our society is constantly changing, this campaign being a very good example of this, and it is not always necessary to follow directly. Do and talk about what makes you happy, and keep an open mind. For more information about the campaign and other related issues see: - Emma Watson's UN speech on feminism - the Free The Nipple Campaign website (some images may be sensitive to younger readers)

A BRIEF LOOK AT MALAWI'S FORMER FEMALE PRESIDENT

Banda) was a despot or hero. Like many of the military leaders that helped Africa get rid of colonialism, he was seen as a hero by the Malawians, but he was a dictator; himself and his government being accused of violating human rights by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. He also introduced many new laws and prosecuted people of diﬀerent ethnicities and difAt the end of May, Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi, lost the presidential election to Peter Mutharika, the brother of the deceased President who Banda succeeded. Banda was a women’s rights activist and fought hard to become President, but she became embroiled in a corruption scandal that has cost her the presidency. Malawi gained its independence from the British in 1964. After independence, the country was ruled as a one-party state, Hastings Banda becoming President for Life. There are conflicting views as to

ferent religious groups, he crushed all opposition, and lived in luxury whilst the Malawians lived well underneath the International Poverty line. He was also one of few African leaders to support South-Africa’s apartheid. He was finally forced to grant elections 1994 when Britain refused to give aid if he remained President for Life, after which he was immediately voted out. During his presidency, Malawi stayed a very poor country, with the majority of the population earning their income agriculturally.

whether Banda (no relation to Joyce 26

Bingu wa Mutharika, Joyce Banda’s predecessor, introduced new policies trying to enhance agriculture and food security. He was also appointed as Chair of the African Union and introduced the idea of ‘Africa to develop Africa’ and also stated that food security would be a priority. However, he wasn’t a perfect leader. He had close relationships with Sudan’s ostracized Omar alBashir and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe which attracted controversy. This then led

Banda meeting Obama

him to condemn the International Criminal Court for issuing a warrant of arrest for al-

ported by the West. Then followed

Bashir in connection with his purported

Mutharika’s attempts to expel her and the

support for the genocide in Darfur.

second Vice-President from the cabinet for

Mutharika also had the police use live am-

so called ‘anti-party’ activities, however he

munition to stop protests in Malawi, even

was unable to prove this and therefore

announcing he would ‘smoke out’ his op-

Banda was never legally removed from her

position.

position as Vice-President.

Joyce Banda was part of another political

Following Bingu wa Mutharika’s death

party, but when Mutharika won the 2009

from a heart attack, there was great confu-

elections, she was then appointed his Min-

sion as to who would assume the role of

ister of Foreign Aﬀairs. Previously she had

President, but as Banda never resigned

campaigned to pass the Domestic Vio-

fromy the Vice-Presidency, she assumed

lence Bill and many more laws to secure

the presidential role, yet she only managed

equal rights for women and zero tolerance

to do so by organising to have the army’s

for child abuse. Mutharika’s relationship

force on her side, protecting her.

with Banda had become more and more stilted, he wanted his own brother Peter Mutharika to be Vice-President instead of her, however Banda went on to win the Vice-Presidency elections, which was sup

Banda took on the role of President with great, promise especially with her perseverance and success in improving women’s rights and laws in Malawi, however the

ing international relations, as her predecessors had not the greatest allies, and she managed to get a lot of support because of her actions involving human and women’s rights campaigns. Yet, the major reason that Banda failed to be elected was that she was involved in a massive money laundering scheme involving 32 million dollars being stolen from the government. This amount had been stolen from April to September 2013. There are various rumours as to how the money hade was discovered, but a popular verMalawi, oﬃcially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. economy of the country was not faring as well. Banda devalued the currency, kwacha, by 49%, which led to a lack of support from the peasants which form 8/10 of the population. Many people argue that Banda inherited a broken country which is in a bad economic state, surely must take some time to recover, and her Economic Recovery Plan has started on making improvements with donors from the West,

sion is that a cleaning lady discovered it hidden in ceiling panels, and smuggled it out each day. Consequently, a number of civil servants were fired under suspect of looting, until finally Banda fired her entire cabinet, accusing them also of looting. Only recently did one of these government oﬃcials declare that Joyce Banda was also involved in the cash gate scandal, yet when the oﬃcial report on these funds was released, Joyce Banda's name was not included; she was exonerated by a British backed corruption audit. By Dasha Scanalan-Oumow

but in such a short time it is impossible to see what the long term results of this plan would have been. When she assumed presidency, Banda concentrated on improv28

STEPHEN PERSE’S CHICAGO-A REVIEW

Having wanted to audition for the winter

lights dimmed and everyone waited expec-

term's production of Chicago, but eventu-

tantly, excited to see the performance, and

ally deciding not to due to the stress of my

those in it. The play was fabulously exe-

impending GCSE's, (which many of the

cuted, with stunning performances from

other year elevens will tell you is “no ex-

the the entire cast, and an astonishingly

cuse”, and that I should “make it work”), I

brilliant live band. The quality of the acting

ended up sitting in the Mumford Theatre

and singing was exceptional, accompa-

last month, awaiting the start of this highly

nied with some surprisingly good Ameri-

anticipated show. Of course, in typical fash-

can accents. One often forgets the eﬀort

ion, I found myself late. I frantically ran in-

that is put into these performances, and

side, collected the tickets, and after some

the amount of people that contribute to

seat swapping, eventually sat down. The

making such a memorable night, but you

could definitely tell that months of hard

lead role of Roxy Hart; and also to Ms Barrel, the director, who must have dealt with months of stress and preparation. Congratulations must also be given to the many singers, soloists, band members, and dancers - some of whom choreographed their own dance scenes. Senior school students were also involved with the lighting and sound, with students from the sixth form helping out back stage wand with costumes, it truly was a triumph for all of the many groups of people involved. Well done! The showreel is available on the SPFDrama youtube channel. By Imogen Kaldor

work had gone into this event. Individual credit should be given where it’s due, and in this case it goes to our very own head girl, Rachel Howe, who was fantastic in the

ART AND CENSORSHIP

“Freedom of expression is essential to the

In a recent conference – ‘Defending artistic

arts. It needs to be actively sustained at

freedom of expression in the UK’ held at

the heart of artistic practice and mission,

the Southbank Centre in London during

or it risks being undermined and dimin-

May 2013, several key speakers discussed

ished by competing concerns. It is a con-

a range of aspects aﬀecting artistic prac-

tentious right that triggers often-divisive de-

tice and censorship. The Arts have always

bate about the responsibility of the artist to

been censored – in diﬀerent ways and for

balance between respecting and challeng-

diﬀerent reasons, but is the current situa-

ing society’s sensibilities.” Julia Farrington,

tion in Britain really at its most liberal now

writing in Index on censorship.

than it has been for decades? And with the globalisation of our online world, where does this leave national boundaries when

artistic expression frequently transcends

receive and impart information and ideas

them? The following text is an abbreviation

without State interference.

from the report of this conference… ‘What is artistic freedom of expression? Whilst everybody within the arts would probably support artistic freedom of expression as an essential tenet of our cultural life, there has been little shared idea of what it is, or the many and complex challenges that are inherent in actively support-

This includes the right to communicate and to express oneself in any medium, including through words, pictures, images and actions (including through public protest and demonstrations). A powerful yet vulnerable right.’ Our freedoms are, as Nicholas Serota, di-

ing it.

rector of The Tate, has said, hard won and

The right to freedom of expression is cru-

on-going as the conditions in society con-

cial in a democracy – information and

stantly change. They are vulnerable to be-

ideas help to inform political debate and

ing “usurped by special interests, misun-

are essential to public accountability and

derstandings or misapplication of the law”

transparency in government. Article 10 of

and the “pressures of mass communica-

the Human Rights Act gives everyone the

tion and multiple cultures make the job of

right to freedom of expression, which in-

vigilance more important and complicated

cludes the freedom to hold opinions and to

than ever before”.

the struggle to support them is necessarily

The Right to Shock The right to freedom of expression is extended to opinion that is abhorrent, that shocks, disgusts and appals and causes oﬀence. Sally Tallant, artistic director of Liverpool Biennial, states that great art is often deeply shocking and very unpopular in the first instance and only later becomes iconic and loved.

of Muzak. It provides the background hum for power.”

“The Shock of the New” is the title to an influential documentary series and later book by Art Critic Robert Hughes, which traced the development of Modern Art from 1880 to the present. In it he argues that the development of modern art arose from the desire to literally change the world, but that “Today, the idea has largely been dismissed, as it must in a mass media society where art's principal social role is to be investment capital, or, in the simplest way, bullion. We still have political art, but we have no eﬀective political art. An artist must be famous to be heard, but as he acquires fame, so his work accumulates 'value' and becomes, ipso-facto, harmless. As far as today's politics is concerned, most art aspires to the condition

"Nadia Plesner's drawing Simple Living (2007) was inspired by the artist's reaction to mass media prioritizing between world matters and celebrity gossip. Sued by Louis Vuitton, Nadia Plesner fought to include references to status symbols in her art works, and was declared by a court in

the Hague to be free to exhibit the draw-

Corporate censorship â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Financial Pres-

ing."

sures

Online Governance

Concerns grow that our governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

The future of Internet governance and the control of online content is a major subject for debate around the world and will impact inevitably on artistic expression. As a private company Google, which owns Youtube, has to operate within the law, but it does have power to set standards for their

push for the arts to find financial support from private philanthropy and corporate sources may risk creating potential or actual obstacles to freedom of expression, threatening the independence and range of programming. Smaller organisations and those in rural areas are perhaps most

online spaces. According to Google, online censorship is on the increase around the world, as the amount of material uploaded increases year on year. With 72 hours of content being uploaded every minute some governments are increasingly looking to whether and how to control digital freedom of expression. 10 years ago there were only six countries that patrolled the Internet, but now 44 out of 78 countries studied by the Open Net Initiative filtered, censored or blocked content to some extent. At any one time, 30 of the 150 countries where Google is used, 30 are blocking or censoring products, including YouTube, Blogger and Search.

at a financial risk and might end up producing ‘safe’ and uncontentious work that is more easily fundable. Therefore it could be argued that self-censorship has the biggest potential impact on artistic freedom of expression. Increasingly, philanthropists are expressing the view that they would like to give money to the arts in return for some influence. There are also questions being raised how organizations can truly support freedom of expression when they are pressured to take money from major corporates with poor human rights records. For more information see: http://artsfreedom.org/ http://www.indexoncensorship.org/takingt heoﬀensive/#whatis http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/CulturalRi ghts/Pages/ArtisticFreedom.asp By Mr Keeble

AGONY AUNT

Dear Agony Aunt, I've been running low on cash lately, and there are so many things that I want to buy from the shops. Also, Christmas is coming up soon, and I want to have enough money to aďŹ&#x20AC;ord to do some fun things over the holidays with my friends. Any ideas? Dear EmptyBankAccount,

Christmas can be a tremendously expensive time. Luckily, Agony Aunt is here to help you get through it!

Scrounge, scrounge, scrounge! Your parents are there to provide for you, and therefore, we should feel no shame whatsoever in doing our very best to obtain money from them at any costs. In the meantime, I recommend becoming a miser. Think Scrooge. When your friends plead with you to bankroll the next trip to Nando's, you must refuse. Remember, when shop-

and easy money just in return for staying in someone's house, and eating their food while the kids are usually asleep. Forcing your siblings to bake and then sell cakes can be surprisingly lucrative as well. Best of luck. Dear Agony Aunt,

ping, anything bought at a charity shop

My parents have been really harsh with

can be passed oďŹ&#x20AC; as vintage. If you're look-

me recently. Everything I do wrong gets

ing to increase your bank balance a bit, baby-sitting is a good way to go. Quick

a complete overreaction and it's really

annoying me. I get blamed for every little thing that goes wrong in my house, and they're favour my sister so much more. Is it my problem or theirs? Dear VictimOfFamilialInjustice, I feel your pain! Remember, parents often end up expecting far too much of their kids and this can lead to a lot of familial discord. Try to be as patient with them as you can- chances are, they're having a tough time at work or something and they're taking it out on people at home. You could always summon your parents to the kitchen table for a meeting and explain how you feel. If they get angry and defensive, you must do your best to remain calm and level-headed, as this will make you look like the better person. Dear Agony Aunt,

I know what you mean. As soon as you get home after a tiring day, and you know that Netflix and junk food are waiting for you, all the schoolwork that you have to do suddenly seem a lot less important. Same goes for chores- your messy room is irritating but the thought of getting out the hoover is just too exhausting. We've all been there. Actually, I still am there, but I'm going to go ahead and advise you anyway. Try and get a decent amount done as soon as you get home- by not giving yourself a break, you will hopefully still be in the

I've become really lazy when it comes

school mindset and so will be able to con-

to getting homework and jobs done. I

centrate more easily. Don't think too much

feel unmotivated and bored when it

about how much revision you have to do-

comes to doing chores and school stuďŹ&#x20AC;

just get on with it. Getting an appropriate

but at the same time I still feel guilty

amount of boring things done before relax-

about not being productive. How do I be-

ing will allow you to enjoy your Breaking

come organised but still enjoy my spare

Bad marathon with a clear conscience.

time? Dear LazyPerson,

(Disclaimer- Agony Aunt is not a certified counselor and suďŹ&#x20AC;ers from intense bouts of sarcasm.) 37

ORIGAMI HISTORY

We've all tried to fold something with paper, whether it's a paper crane or a waterbomb. This art of paper folding is called Origami. The question is, where did it come from? Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding. ORI means to fold and KAMI means paper. It is skill that has been handed down through many generations, from parent to child. Origami involves the creation of paper forms, usually entirely by

The skill origami varies from easy paper

folding (and with much frustration!). Ani-

cranes to complex animals

mals, birds, fish, geometric shapes, puppets, toys and masks are some examples

paper making to the country coincided

of popular designs.

with the development of their religion and soon became part of the lives of the peo-

Paper, made from wood pulp, was first in-

ple.

vented in China in the first century A.D. It then gradually became more available to

However, while the origin of paper is clear,

the masses, but the secret of how it was

there is an ongoing debate as to who were

made was kept in China for several hun-

the first paper folders. The written records

dred years, until it was brought to Korea

for the period are limited, so it is unknown

and finally to Japan by Buddhist monks in

whether origami originated in China or Ja-

the sixth century A.D. The introduction of

pan. Certainly, paper folding is an impor38

tant part of chinese culture. When people

So who was responsible originally? No-

are buried, replicas of items are often

body really knows. The debate goes on...

folded and put in their tombs. Many origami toys were also developed by the Chi-

By Olivia StaďŹ&#x20AC;ord

nese, the most famous of these being the water bomb. However, no one will dispute that Japan developed origami to a very high art form. When it was first developed, origami was held in particularly high esteem and gifts were decorated with "noshi". Noshi had particular fold patterns depending on the gift. At one time origami was taught in schools, although today children are generally taught at home. Holidays are celebrated with colourful origami decorations made by the family. On children's day (formerly boy's day), children make colorful carp: a fish that swims upstream, against the current. This symbolizes strength. During the summer, Tanabata, The Star Festival is celebrated. Live bamboo branches are decorated with origami stars and other

Some instructions for you to make your

paper decorations in a manner which

own origami dragon...

brings to mind a decorated Christmas tree. The first written records of origami, which was passed on orally for many years, were the "Senzaburu Orikata" or "How to One Thousand Cranes" were also discovered in Japan in 1797.

KYLIE AND GLOBAL CITIZENS

After recently having had an assembly, and for the year elevens, a PSHE day as well, you will be aware of an organisation known as 'The Global Citizens', which is active in ending world poverty by 2030. This organisation takes action through spreading awareness and knowledge of issues which currently negatively impact and aﬀect the world, which the Global Citizens strive to improve and change, believing that everyone can play a role. The Global Citizens target issues concerning food and hunger, water and sanitation, health, women and girls, sustainability, and education, in poorer countries. They urge people to join the movement against world poverty by signing up to their website, with the prom-

Global Citizens is a worldwide organization which looks to spread awareness regarding global poverty

ise of possible rewards by earning points.

Having signed up to this website after our

The website consists of numerous articles

PSHE day, partially motivated by the possi-

on current issues aﬀecting the world’s pov-

bility of winning some concert tickets, I

erty, and what you can do to help stop it,

earned my points (through sharing articles

which you are encouraged to share

and signing petitions) and applied for two

through social media.

tickets to see Kylie, a childhood artist of mine, at the O2.

done any homework, which I assure you, is by no means a regular occurrence. I was surprised as we entered the O2 to see how close our seats were to the stage. Having sat down for no more than ten minutes, we were shocked to see Alan Carr stumble down the row in front of us to be Kylie has made a phenomenal comeback to the music industry. It was a Friday afternoon when I checked my email, and to my astonishment, there was in fact an email in my inbox claiming that I had actually won two tickets to see Kylie. After I overcame the shock, for I am not someone who usually wins things, I frantically replied confirming that I could attend, despite the concert being on the Monday night before one of our school’s famous topic tests, most likely meaning my result would be...well, less than satis-

sitting in the seat right in front. The people around us swarmed him for photos and he continued to smile for each one joking and joining in with everyone's banter. I can say for certain that his humour accompanied him oﬀ the television screen as throughout the night he would turn round and make witty remarks to us every now and then. Not wondering how this night could get any better, David Walliams, came and sat down next to him, with Natalie Imbruglia (for those of you wondering, she's the woman who sang the classic 'Torn') joining them a few seats along. Finally Kylie came

factory.

on stage. It was certainly a performance,

Arriving at the O2 in anticipation after sit-

phy, everything was carefully planned, and

ting through an astounding amount of traf-

it paid oﬀ as the whole crowd was dancing

fic, causing some panic as the Blackwell

and singing along. Kylie performed hit after

Tunnel was briefly closed oﬀ, we quickly

hit, which brought upon waves of nostal-

ran from the car park worrying we might

gia, singing surprisingly well as she pro-

miss the ticket collection time. My mother

duced an unforgettable night. Throughout

was afraid that the entirety of this trip was

the concert Alan (yes, we are now on a

a scam and we'd return to Cambridge af-

first name basis) continued to turn round

ter a tiresome night of driving, not having

to comment on the show, and the whole

the costumes, the stage, the choreogra-

row that we sat along peered over to see David Walliams showing everyone photos of his son (not creepy). With the final songs seeing a somewhat drunk Alan Carr and David Walliams chanting along, the whole of the O2 joined in creating a memorable and surreal moment, especially when Alan (voluntarily) shook my hand, saying how lovely it was to meet me, with my fangirl mother leaning in for a handshake too.

Despite the waďŹ&#x201E;ing on about the tales of my somewhat surreal experience at a concert that surpassed all my expectations, the main purpose of this article is to spread awareness of the work of the Global Citizens. The Global Citizen website states that "there are more than 350,000 Global Citizens already taking action around the world". It doesn't take much to join them, does it? By Immie Kaldor

REVIEW OF SWIFTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 1989: 'Swift really has one-upped her critics with this glossy hit'

She's blonde and has a cat called Meredith. She's a New Yorker (and very proud to be one). She loves to bake cookies and she writes her own lyrics. She has a net worth of over $200million and her latest album 1989 soared to the top of the charts. Taylor Swift must be doing something right. At 24 years old, this singer-songwriter is the idol of teenagers world-wide and with a Twitter following competing with that of Barack Obama, her album was bound to make some noise. So what is it about 1989 that sets it apart from other pop albums? What makes this red-lipped songstress better than Katy Perry and the rest of the bubblegum pop world? And how ex-

guitars and soft ballads of Swift's youth. She's grown up now, and this is a grown up album. 'The lights are so bright but they

actly has 1989 done so well?

never blind me' she sings, full of the new

The album opens with Welcome to New

define her new work. Next, Blank Space

York and the gated drums, the synthesised

sees Swift slipping into and mocking the

sounds smothered over Swift's voice make

persona the media has created for her, the

sure we're under no illusion here. This al-

obsessive man-eater who tortures her lov-

bum has broken away from the acoustic

ers until they run away. It's recently re-

self confidence and inner strength which

leased music video has already been

the pop princesses and princes of the 21st

viewed millions of times- Swift really has

Century and frankly, Taylor has no time for

one-upped her critics with this glossy hit.

them.It has it's faults. I Wish You Would

Style follows, and we see how she's put

and How You Get the Girl are the weakest

the help of the world's biggest writer-

tracks, although they too have been mas-

producers such as Max Martin (Katy Perry,

terfully executed, courtesy of the glitzy pro-

Britney Spears), Ryan Tedder (Beyonce,

ducers Swift spends her time with. But all

Adele) to good use. Perhaps the most pol-

the smoothing over can't stop the cringey

ished song in the album, Style is a clever

lyrics and the lack of originality in the 'mel-

love song, full of glittering nonchalance

ody'. 'Remind her how it used to be/ With

and the self assuredness of the girl who

pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks' she

can play games just as well as her dates.

tells all the ex-lovers of the world. The pic

My favourite song of the album has to be Bad Blood, which is full of carefully controlled anger, purportedly towards Katy Perry for sabotaging a concert of Swift's. Whoever it's about, the synthesised harmonies and the heavy beat have me hooked. "Band aids don't fix bullet holes/ You say sorry just for show' sings America's sweetheart, full of bitter remorse. Bad Blood is followed by the ethereal, chimerical 'Wildest Dreams',

a song with a beautiful

bridge and sharp drum machines coming into play. Of course, Shake It Oﬀ has played it's role in the promotion of this al-

Bad Blood is reportedly about Katy

bum, being the first single she released

Perry sabotaging a Taylor Swift concert

and by far the most generic song 1989 has to oﬀer, full of the 80's inspired cheesy beats and repetition which the other songs proﬀer in subtler, more delicate ways. 'The haters' are of course, the biggest enemy of

ture being in the frame is obviously crucial for this relationship to get back on it's feet. However, more than petty problems with lyrics, I miss the emotion of Swift's work.

The humanity and the raw feelings which

most certainly cemented her transition

came through in her earlier songs, the

from country to pop and she's definitely

laughter and tears which were so all en-

grown up. She's full of backbone and sar-

compassing. This album relies on the com-

casm, biting back at how people and the

bined strength of production and lyrics,

media see and portray her. She's taken

rather than the sentiments in her singing,

and owned the negative image of her as a

which is drowned by the harmonies and

crazy, overly attached girlfriend to the

glittering synthesisers. Perhaps I'm old

point that if one was go describe her as that now seems like a pathetically weak and whiny attempt to belittle her. She totally managed to step out of the niche the media has put her in and she's really put herself out there, an incredibly brave thing to do for a young female artist, and has come across as funny, creative and ready to do what she wants for herself. We can lament the passing of her previous sound

fashioned but sometimes, I'd skip the special eďŹ&#x20AC;ects and the perfect rhythm to hear more of what an artist is feeling in their mu-

and persona, but I think we should all congratulate and welcome her new style. By Zehra Munir

sic. 1989 has been perfected so that it makes beautiful listening and it honestly doesn't disappoint but it just needs to be scratched at a little, so that we can see what's actually happening under the silvery melodies. It could do with being a little more real. However if Swift was looking to break free of media stereotypes surrounding female artists and her own personal image, the album is an outstanding success. She's

2015: THE BOOKS TO READ

Think of them lining your shelves. Think of picking them up in bookstores and falling in love with their front covers (maybe you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but honestly? Some of them are works of art. They deserve to be appreciated). Think of hot chocolates and snowy days (a girl has to dream!) and being reunited with all your favourite characters. If that's not exciting, frankly, I don't know what is. Here's to the New Year, and all the books it holds! Which Young Adult books are you getting excited about this winter? Here are some of our favorites. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare, #1 in the Dark Artifices. This woman has the ability to churn out novels like some kind of...churner. Uh. Anyway. It's happening! Characters from the Mortal Instruments return, with all their charm and wit (and insanely good looks) still in place.

The Racket by John Green. We have no idea what it's about, but if it's anything like The Fault in Our Stars, we're in! But John, some representation this time, please?Â A little diversity wouldn't kill you.

John Green is the author of the phenomenally succesful ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, as well as several other books. The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan.

Even we're wittier than Rick Riordan nowa-

Okay, this list wouldn't be complete with-

days.

out mentioning Riordan's new oﬀering, but our hopes aren't very high for this new se-

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by

ries. It's about Norse Gods. Rick Riordan

Alan Bradley, #7 in the Flavia De Luce

you ask? Author of the Percy Jackson se-

Series. So, it's not strictly YA but Flavia

ries? The Heroes of Olympus series? The

transcends all boundaries. Please. Please

Kane Chronicles? Oh, but he never writes

read these wonderful, witty, novels over

about Gods! We're cynical and tired- it

the winter, so you're ready for As Chimney

seems like what was once an original,

Sweepers. Bradley doesn't disappoint.

witty series has become another money churning franchise. A franchise that we're completely disenfranchised with. See?

Finding Paris by Joy Preble. It looks to be your typical YA novel, with the usual webs of "secrets and lies" and pathetic love interests, but something about the de47

scription of this mystery novel has caught our eye. Google it for more information...you might be intrigued. Dead to Me by Mary McCoy. Yet another mystery oďŹ&#x20AC;ering, but we've been promised a backdrop of Golden Age Hollywood, and a plot full of LA intrigue. I'm not too impressed but the hype surrounding it is mounting, so get in there before your friends. Even if it's just to tell them how awful it is...! The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson. A transgender protagonist and their journey to self discovery. At least one YA author is trying to address topical concerns! Props to Lisa! So what will you be picking up this winter? If any of these books actually end up next to you, along with some hot chocolate, do send us a review of them, at 10118@stephenperse.com. We'd love to publish it! By The Publications Team

NEGATIVE NEWS

You may have found yourself thinking this

This feeling seems to be felt by many and

very thought recently, as our news bulle-

readers who followed last summer's Great

tins become, more often than not, full of

British Bake Oﬀ "Bingate" scandal will re-

negative and desperate situations which

member the enormous reaction social me-

thousands are facing all over the globe.

dia and the general public had to the

You may feel scared by the threats each

shock turn of events. The BBC received

one of these situations poses to our shel-

well over 800 complaints, the shows's twit-

tered lifestyles and safety.

ter hashtag trended for several days, and

The Ebola outbreak, ISIS, the kidnapping of 276 Nigerian girls who still aren't home, the problems in Ukraine (how much do we really know about Russia' plans?), North Korea (are they going to blow us up?!), ongoing problems in Syria and Iraq, even the rise of UKIP. Watching the 10 o'clock news sometimes jut feels like hearing a list of

The Sun newspaper made it their front page headline; all over the temper-tantrum of one Irish baker which resulted in a baked Alaska being unceremoniously sloped into a bin. Why this story, you might ask. Why this huge outcry regarding arguably one of the year's least important news stories?

things we're powerless to stop. It's de-

Many online commentators suggested that

pressing and frustrating, especially for peo-

we simply took out all our frustration and

ple our age who have even less power

indignation at all the crises we're power-

over the situation because we can't vote

less to stop on the one situation we could

for a government who can do something

do something about. ISIS, Ebola, climate

about these problems.

change; all these are examples of situations we can't do much at all to change.

thing's fault. Although there is something to be said about movements and corrupt governments such as ISIS and the Syrian government taking advantage of the world's preoccupation to quietly continue their actions. It should also be remembered that this is Seeing UKIP rising to power in the

not the first time the world has had a hec-

news isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the most cheery sight.

tic schedule of disasters. You need only remember the Arab Spring which sparked

Individually we can turn oďŹ&#x20AC; lights and take showers instead of baths but we cant see any immediate improvement to global warming; the diďŹ&#x20AC;erence with "Bingate" therefore is that all it took for us to fight back was simply to put our feelings into words and send an angry email to the BBC or just attach #GBBO to the end of a tweet. We felt compelled in some way reduce how small and useless we feel, and actually do something to change what we were hearing. To answer the question, it's mainly just coincidence. Unless you're really into conspiracy theories I'm sure you'll agree that it's unlikely that the spread of a virus in West Africa is connected to the atrocities committed by jihadists in Iraq and the Middle East. The fact that all these crises are happening at the same time is simply how it's all working out, not really anyone or any-

bloody civil wars, some of which still continue, in several countries where corrupt and cruel governments and rebels alike committed war crimes and thousands upon thousands died due to the fighting or the humanitarian crisis caused. Or a while ago when there seemed to be a new tsunami, earthquake or hurricane every week. This is not the first time something like this has occurred. The world is developing and changing at a constantly accelerating pace, and with all the iPads, flying cars and improvements this brings, also come new and more complex threats. These new threats are ones we would have never have thought of or ones which suddenly gain momentum. They uses new means and methods which we have to learn to combat for the first time. As terrifying as it seems, we simply need to continue to evolve and adapt as

good thing, so it's advisable to continue to keep up with the news so that you can find and know about the positive stories and kept track of the negative ones. It's important to remember that good things are also always happening and that however small they seem they're the threats to us do, to stand a chance in

just as valid as news stories. Here's a cou-

this modern world.

ple to end this article on a high:

A factor to take into consideration when

1. Emma Watson's empowering speech at

considering the question why the news al-

the UN has not only educated millions but

ways seem so negative is our age. It pains

has prompted a worldwide discussion on

me to say it and I'm sure it sounds a lot

women's rights and brought feminism into

like when adults say that the reason we

the spotlight. All this should hopefully go

don't understand is because we're "not

someway to improve women's lives across

old enough" but in recent years it is likely

the globe.

that you have individually become a lot more aware of current aďŹ&#x20AC;airs and so every-

2. Malala Yousafzai was honoured with a

thing feels bigger than it is. That's not,

Nobel Peace Prize last month in October.

however to say that it's not as big as it seems but that, perhaps, a bit of perspective we as teenagers don't yet have is required. On a more positive note, the fact that the the global situation currently seems so dire

3. Benedict Cumberbatch is getting married. 4. The Paddington Bear Movie is showing soon! By Siobhan Pebody

means that you are more aware of the world than others may be. This is always a

Your Guide to the Perfect Christmas

So, Christmas is fast approaching and

mas Eve when you realise you haven’t got

there is no doubt that all most people can

presents for your family yet/sift through all

think of is what they’re going to do with all

your presents and decide that maybe the

their free time (sleep in late, stagger down-

pair of socks you got your dad might not

stairs to watch some telly - 70% of which

go down so well after all – unless of course

will be Christmas adverts – cry over the

you have exceptional taste in socks, in

John Lewis advert, eat a minced pie and

which case go ahead). Obviously there will

then repeat the whole process, with excep-

be some people who, in their perfect way,

tion to the last minute panic-buy on Christ-

have Christmas already sorted, but if you

are one of many who don’t really know what you’re doing over the holidays, here is a simple guide to follow to ensure that your Christmas is more than just average!

-Fireplace centrepiece: you can make a really eﬀective Christmas decoration for your fireplace by just getting a couple of large candles (preferably red, white or dark Setting the scene It’s important that you set the scene at Christmas and make sure your house is looking extra festive for the holidays to get

green) and surrounding with short holly branches and pine cones that you can easily find outside at this time. Christmas snacks

you in the mood. Obviously there’s the tree and the house lights, but you can go that

I think that most people will agree that one

bit further to make the house even more

of the most exciting things about Christ-

festive:

mas is the food, and why not when all the main food stores are tempting you with

-Make paper chains and put them every-

their special oﬀers as they continue to

where. You don’t even need to buy any-

wage war amongst themselves and make

thing; you can just use some old newspa-

as much money as possible in this festive

pers or magazines that need getting rid of.

time. Hooray for Christmas. But for the less

-Paper snowflakes – classic window decoration. -Fairy lights/candles: cosy lighting and scented candles are essential in winter to

cynical amongst, the food at Christmas is amazing and you can eat as much of it as you like – no need to diet, you can do that in New Year. For those who enjoy cooking, I have found the following recipes that I

make the house look and feel warmer.

know will be a family favourite and will help

3. Immediately pour the boiling cream mix-

to make the perfect Christmas feast.

ture over the chocolate. Leave it to sit for

Plain Chocolate Truffles (easy): Truffles sound really fancy and difficult to make, but are actually really easy – and don’t fail to impress. These will make excel-

about a minute and then, using a rubber spatula, carefully stir for two minutes. 4. Cover the bowl with cling film and then leave to cool and thicken overnight.

lent gifts for friends or family, as long as

5. Take roughly half a teaspoon of your truf-

they are eaten within a few days of being

fle mixture, lightly cover your hand in co-

made.

coa and then roll into a little ball.

-5 oz (150 g) good quality plain dessert

6. Roll the ball onto a plate covered with

chocolate

the rest of the cocoa powder to give it a

-5 fl oz (150 ml) thick double cream -1 oz (25 g) unsalted butter -2 tablespoons rum or brandy -1 dessertspoon cocoa powder

smoother appearance. Place your truﬄe into a paper case. Repeat stages 5 and 6 until you have no mixture left over. For a variant (slightly harder): Toast a couple of ounces (50g) of hazelnuts without their skins (roast on a small

You will also need some paper sweet

baking tin in an oven at 180°/gas mark 4

cases to put the truﬄes in at the end.

for about three minutes – watching them carefully so that they do not burn. You’ll

1. Break up the chocolate and cut into

know they’re done as you will be able to

small pieces (roughly ½ cm x ½ cm) – be

smell the nuts roasting) and grind in a food

patient, the small size matters. Put the

processor/chop until they are in small

chocolate in a medium sized heat proof

chunks. Rather than covering with the co-

bowl.

coa, roll the truﬄe around in the chopped

2. In a small saucepan, heat the cream, butter and rum/brandy until it begins to

nuts to form a crunchy outer coating. Mince Pies (medium diﬃculty):

rise up and boil.

3. Roll out half the pastry to a thickness of a one pound coin (or a little thinner if possible). 4. Use a large, circular cutter to cut out the bases of the mince pies. Put these in each hole of the mince pie tin. 5. Pace one teaspoon of the mincemeat into each mince pie (don’t use too much it will spread out when cooking). Christmas isn’t complete without mince pies and although you can buy them from anywhere at this time, it is a lot more satisfying if you make them yourself. And for

6. Roll out the second half of the pastry and cut out the ‘lids’ using the smaller cutter.

people who don’t like mince meat, you

7. Using the pastry brush dipped in water,

could always make an alternative of mini

moisten the inside rim of each of the filled

apple pies instead, at least until you learn

mince pie bases, then press the pastry lid

to love a mince pie.

into the rim to get a good seal (very impor-

-Packet of ready-made short-crust pastry -1 jar of good quality mincemeat You will also need a mince pie tin and cutters (1 large and 1 small), a pastry brush and a cup of water. 1. Put the oven on to heat at 180°. 2. Dust the worktop and a rolling pin with a little flour.

tant that there are no gaps for the mincemeat to escape when cooking). 8. Use a very sharp knife to make a slit/ cross in the top of each mince pie to let steam escape. 9. Put the mince pies in to cook for about 12 minutes, after which watch carefully until they are golden brown. (Whilst they’re cooking press the excess pastry into a ball, roll out and cut as many bases and lids as you can manage to make a second batch) 55

10. Once finished baking, remove from the

1. Mix together the marshmallows, broken

oven and place on a cooling rack.

biscuits, chopped cherries and chopped

Rocky Road Christmas pudding (me-

almonds in a bowl.

dium diﬃculty):

To make the chocolate ganache:

This is a Christmas favourite in my family –

2. Break up the chocolate and cut into very

and perfect for anyone who doesn’t like

fine pieces – this will make it easier to

the traditional Christmas pudding, or only

melt. Put the chocolate in a medium sized

likes the marzipan and icing on the Christ-

heat proof bowl.

mas cake (we’ve all been there). This is honestly my favourite Christmas dessert and it will be popular with anyone who has a sweet tooth. -300ml double cream

3. In a small saucepan, heat the cream until it starts boiling. 4. Immediately pour the boiling cream over the chocolate. Leave it to sit for about a minute and then, using a rubber spatula,

-8 oz (200 g) milk chocolate

carefully stir it for two minutes.

-4 oz (100 g) plain chocolate

5. Then add the mixture of marshmallows, biscuits etc. to the ganache and mix to-

-4 oz white chocolate -4 oz unsalted butter

gether until everything is evenly covered. At this point you can add more crushed digestive biscuits if the mixture isn’t firm

-3 oz (75 g) mini marshmallows

enough.

-3 oz digestive biscuits, broken into small

6. Cover the inside of the Pyrex bowl with

pieces

cling film. Add the rocky road mixture and press down to make sure that it takes the

-2 oz (25 g) glace cherries, chopped

shape of the bowl.

-2 oz chopped almonds (no skins)

7. Cover with some more cling film and

You will also need a 2 pint size Pyrex bowl

then leave over night to cool and harden.

(Christmas pudding size).

8. Once set, remove the rocky road from the bowl and remove the cling film. 9. Melt white chocolate in a microwave. 10. Drizzle over the top to complete your rocky road Christmas pudding. Music Nothing gets you in the mood for Christmas like a good sing-along. This holiday, the single most important piece of advice I could give you would be to listen to Christmas music – all the time. It might annoy your family but you’ve got to get it out your

-The Fairytale of New York (The Pogues

system now; you don’t want to be the per-

and Kirsty MacColl)

son who starts singing Christmas songs in summer. I’m sure you will know most of

-Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Band Aid)

these already, but in case you need the

-The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting

names here are some Christmas classics

On An Open Fire)

for you to listen to over the holidays: -Last Christmas (Wham!) -The Best Christmas Album in the World...Ever! (Album – Various Artists)

-So This Is Christmas (Band Aid)

-Now That’s What I Call Christmas (Album – Various Artists) -Christmas (Album – Michael Bublé) -All I want for Christmas is you (Mariah Carey) -Stop the Calvary (Jona Lewie)

-Mary’s Boy Child (Boney M.) -Driving home for Christmas (Chris Rea) -Merry Christmas Everybody (Slade) Movies Like with music, it’s important that you over-watch your favourite Christmas films

Elf-you hate it or you love it! -The Greatest Store in the World

over the holidays, so that you don’t find yourself watching Elf in the spring or summer term. Here are some film suggestions for you to choose from this Christmas: -It’s a Wonderful Life -Home Alone -Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas

-National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation -Scrooged Christmas Specials -Doctor Who -Sherlock -Call the Midwife

-The Polar Express -Elf -A Christmas Carol -Love Actually -Bridget Jones’s Diary -Great Expectations -The Nativity

-Miranda

-The Snowman

-Downton Abbey

-Strictly Come Dancing

-Jumper/shirts

-Eastenders

-Books

-Hollyoaks

-Films*

-Cuckoo

-CDs

-Text Santa

For Brothers

Gifts

-Toys/Games/Lego/Playmobil

The presents are probably the biggest

-Sweets/Chocolate

stress at Christmas time – coming up with ideas is sometimes very diﬃcult, especially if you’re on a budget, and no-one ever wants to give a bad present. Here is a list for you to choose from or at least get some ideas. Don’t leave Christmas shopping until the last minute; get it done early so you can be the smug one who pities the lastminute shoppers instead of the other way round.

-Xbox/DS games

For Mum

-Fifa

-Jewellery (earrings, necklace, bracelet)

-Clothes

-Voucher for a massage/beauty treatment

-Books

-Scented Candle

-Films*

-Christmas jumper/other clothes

-CDs

For Dad

For Sisters (we're trying not to conform to gender stereotypes here, so rest assured,

the lists for brothers and sisters are inter-

-â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Make your ownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recipe book (can be or-

changeable? Let's be honest though,

dered from online and come with blank

chocolate works for everyone...)

pages for filling out your own recipes)

-Clothes

-Mug

-Chocolate

-Apron

-Magazine subscription

-Biscuit tins/jars/things for the kitchen

-Blott stationary

-Jars with ingredients in

-Makeup

The Gamer

-Voucher to get nail/beauty treatment

-Video games

For grandparents -Box Set of a TV series -Jewellery -Scarf -Gloves -Cookbook -Family photo album (buy a photo album and stick in your family photos from the past year) The Cook -Recipe books

-Headphones -iTunes/Amazon/Google Play Voucher -Phone Case The Gardener -Mini herb garden -Gardening set -Gardening gloves -Garden ornaments/decorations The Shopaholic (who already has everything they want) -Hat/Scarf/Gloves -Jewellery box/stand 60

-Lipstick

*Popular films this year:

-Nail Varnish

Guardians of the Galaxy, The

-Toiletries e.g. exfoliating scrub, bath

Fault in Our

bomb, shower gel, hand/body moisturiser

Stars, Divergent, Malefi-

-Photo album

cent, X-Men: The Sport Enthusiast

Days of Future Past, 22 Jump

-Tickets to matches

Street, The Lego Movie,

-Hat/scarf for favourite team

Dawn of the Planet Apes, Godzilla, Trans-Sport equipment

formers, Catching Fire, Frozen

-Sports t-shirt

I hope that this article has given you a few

The Musician -Music books (can be classical or modern, or the scores for the songs of their favour-

ideas of things you can do over the holidays to make your home feel extra festive and reassured you if you were starting to panic about present ideas for your friends

ite artist)

and family. At the least I hope it has got

-CDs

Christmas!

-Concert tickets

By Alex Fice

you excited for the holidays – have a great

The Artist -Brushes -Paints -Pencil/drawing set -Books on art/diﬀerent artists/types of art 61

Mrs Wall- Teacher Profile

Background information- Mrs Wall has joined us from her school in Canada and it now head of the senior school. Zehra Munir went to find out more about our new head. Tell us a little about yourself, where you were born, where you went to school? I was born in Castleton, near Derby. I'm one of seven. I went to Ashley Grammar School and from there I went to Exeter University to study Phys Ed and Geography. What made you decide to become a teacher? I decided when I was in Elementary, ooh,

Mrs Wall was born in Castleton, near

Elementary, I'm in England aren't I! Primary

Derby.

school, when we were asked what we

then realised that money is not actually

wanted to be a teacher. So I think from

what it's all about. And that I actually en-

about the age of nine I wanted to be a

joyed the time that I spent working with

teacher. There were a couple of years

brownies and guides and those kinds of or-

when I decided I wanted to be a lawyer be-

ganisations and that I enjoyed working

cause I thought I'd be making money but I

with people.

What's your favourite flavour of Ben &

thirty. And for me I always wanted to be as

Jerry's ice cream? (Question from Trin-

good she was, and then suddenly I real-

ity Hales)

ised that I didn't need to be as good as she was and that I was actually pretty cool

Ooh, my goodness. So I like vanilla ice

by myself and I just need to be confident

cream per se, but I also enjoy mint choc

about the way I am. Don't worry too much

chip. Now I don't know if Ben and Jerry's

about what everyone else thinks.

have mint choc chip but I do like mint choc chip.

And what's your favourite book?

What's your biggest achievement? My biggest achievement. My gold DofE award, fencing for my country (really?!), yeah I was captain of the university fencing team. And leading the university into an inter universities competition. Actually being appointed head of my last school was also pretty cool. What kind of school was your last school in Vancouver? It went from kindergarten to grade twelve. So from age 5 to age 18. And it was an IB school. And if you could give advice to yourself when you were 16, what would you say? I would say, don't worry what your sisters do, don't compare yourself to everyone

I actually like Nelson Mandela's Long Walk

else. Because I compared myself to my

to Freedom. It's one of the books which

older sister probably until I was about

really made me cry. I've enjoyed the Harry

Potter series. It's fantastic and it's actually quite cool because they filmed some of it, no not Harry Potter, Percy Jackson. Percy Jackson, some of the scenes, they filmed them in my school hall actually. So Pierce Brosnan has been on my school stage, haha! Books...other books that I like.

What's your favourite quote? ‘It’ll be alright in the end and if it’s not alright, it’s not the end.’ –The Exotic Marigold Hotel Would you consider yourself politically active? Hmmn, what should I be saying to that? What's the right answer? I have some opinions on things but I've got to now learn British politics again which is also one of the reasons for coming back into this kind of environment, so I could learn the British education system again, because I've been out for eleven years. So in that respect, no, not yet. I'm still trying to reacquaint myself with these politics. What is your view on iPads as a learning device? I think as long as they are maintained as a tool, they can be great. I think when people are just using them to replace pen and paper, we have an issue. My biggest con-

Hmmn, I actually quite like A Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, her memoir. I liked that. I think I liked it because I'm quite nosy about people...that's just the way I am!

cern is screen time, with people's eyes and I think we should get some time and I don't know whether longitudinally how they will aﬀect people's eyes. As a result of using the iPad I now have a bad back, using it every day and leaning down over it has now become a problem for me, I can't

do that everyday. So you know, I do worry about that, but I love that as a phys ed teacher the fact that you can take outside and you can video people's performance, then use observation and analysis. There are things that are opened up, though you could do them with a camera, this just

What's your favourite sport? Fencing, definitely. Netball, I enjoy, I've played netball for the last eight years. Netball is quite a British sport, isn't it? Yes and in Canada, especially in BC the teams are actually pretty strong and probably 5/7ths

makes it a little bit easier.

of the Canadian team are from BC. So its

So I think that as teachers become more

played in schools very much yet but its

adept at it, and when they find one or two

definitely quite strong.

actually quite a strong contingent. It’s not

apps that we fit for purpose and really improve what happens in a classroom rather than just using them because they're iPads, that can be pretty cool.

What’s your favourite sporting team? Hmmn, not the England football team!

What are your hobbies? I like reading, I like gardening, I love cooking, that for me is great after I've been at school all day, just to go cook because it's got nothing to do with school. I love spending time with my family, my husband and

That’s pretty dire. Vancouver Canucks, al-

my little boy...because he's six years old

though they haven’t played very well in the

that means I get to go to parks and hang

last few matches, I admit. Seattle’s base-

on the monkey bars and the slide and the

ball team are actually pretty cool. I’m trying

swings so that's actually quite fun. I love

to think of teams, which we’ve watched. I

skiing, I'm a bit concerned now that we've

don’t follow sport here, not a big fan of any-

got to travel quite a way to go to the ski

thing. If anyone wants to ask me what

slopes. I love the outdoors, I love hiking

team I support, because I remember chil-

and walking and all that kind of thing, and I

dren did in my secondary school down in

do like fencing although I haven't fenced

Hampshire and I actually came up with

for a little while.

Darby Country because that’s my local

team. Yes, if anyone asks what team I sup-

If you could change one thing on earth

port, I would say Darby County. I’ve

what would it be?

watched them play once. And what were they like? Awful! The thing with football is

I would try and get people to talk instead

that you may not get a goal at all, whereas

of go to war. I find it quite senseless, that

ice hockey, it’s fast, it’s furious, it’s just fan-

today in this day and age, we have people

tastic! I have to say, it’s a pretty neat sport.

just killing each other mindlessly. That just frustrates me. If I could change one thing,

Who inspires you?

yeah, I guess it would be that.

My mum, my mum is someone who really

What kind of music do you listen to?

inspires me. As far as Phys Ed, Martin Underwood who was one of my lecturers at university. He was all about the kids, and I remember asking him whether I should go work in state schools or I should work in independent schools and he said 'Ali, it doesn't matter where you work because all kids deserve good teachers.'

He stuck

with me forever, while I was teaching gym-

I like U2, they’re fantastic, they’re quite

nastics and everything. And from my time

amazing. Dire Straights, Big Sea which is a

in Canada, there was a guy called Robin

Canadian band, they’re actually quite

Hinell, he's a Brit but he's been in Canada

good.

forever, 40 odd years. But again, he was my head of school when I first moved there and again, he was all about the kids. He was all about making sure the students had the best time possible. He knew that teenage years aren't easy, and everyone says 'Oh, they're the best years of your life!' when actually, they aren't, they're pretty tough. It's quite a stressful time and I wouldn't want to relive it.

If you were stuck on a desert island, what three items would you take with you? A picture of my family and I know I should be practical and take a shovel or a box of matches but I take a picture of those two with me wherever I go. A radio might be a good one, or a mobile phone so I could signal someone to come and get me. I sup66

pose with a mobile phone I could light a

What do you think about the school

fire or something. A box of magic wishes

lunches?

or a tardis would be quite good, so I could go somewhere else!

You know, I actually think they’re pretty good! I think there is so much selection,

And leading on from your box of magic

anybody who says they can’t find anything

wishes, what would your three wishes

to eat, they haven’t got a real problem.

be?

You know, you don’t have to have the big

That I wasn’t stuck on a desert island! Generally, my three wishes would be. I wish my dad was still here. That would be my big wish. I think that when your parents are here and still around, you just take them for granted and then they get ill and you suddenly realize that oh my goodness, they’re not going to be here forever. I do wish that he was back, without a doubt. I wish that my sisters who are in Australia, I’m a big family person you see, that they were closer. I wish that there was a way of being able to zip from here to Canada without the ten hour flight. Yes, teleportation would be a big wish for me, because I think that would be brilliant, I could go and see people and do everything! What else? Hmmn, you’d think a person would have loads of wishes wouldn’t you? You know, just to be happy and healthy! For me, I don’t need big things in my life, I don’t need big houses, I just need my family around me and my friends.

carbohydrate meal if you don’t want to, there are healthy options, you can mix and match between a salad and a piece of meat. The yogurts are one thing I think are appalling. I’d just rather they didn’t bother with them at all. They’re just dire. I don’t think there’s anything healthy in them at all. I like the fact that there’s lots of fruit. Yes, I think the lunches are pretty good. I don’t know what people expect to be honest. That’s my concern. It might be quite interesting to see what Jamie Oliver would think of it. The guy who, Kevin, Kevin Jackman who is the top chef, he’s worked in hotels and things. And obviously you have budget that you’ve got to work to, but the reality is, I remember watching the Jamie Oliver school dinners and we’ve got fresh veg everyday, we’ve got fresh meat everyday, you know there is a good balance there. The fact that we’ve got a whole salad bar there everyday, I think that’s pretty healthy. I mean it’s interesting what the girls choose. Dessert always comes first! I think people vote with their feet, I 67

don’t think anything’s really greasy, that’s

work together, I think it’s an opportunity

the one thing I would struggle with and

that we’re missing. I know we do so many

that’s not the case. Is it Cordon Bleu and is

clubs and there are so many societies so I

the meat medium rare? No, thank good-

think it’s a case of where do you put it in?

ness. I’m glad it’s cooked food. I know

But I think it’s a big opportunity, so that’s

we’re paying for it but there’s only so much

my hope for next year. Otherwise, just to

of your school fees which go towards food

be happy and to see some more of the UK

and I think they actually do quite a good

and to get to see my friends again.

job. And I think that if we want the kids to be eating healthily, the options are there. Bar the yogurts. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Someone must’ve said just follow your own mind. Trust your own judgment and your own instinct, and don’t be afraid to ask questions because you can’t have all

Where would you like to travel? I want to go to Reykjavik, in Iceland. I love tectonics. I love volcanoes and the glaciers and that kind of thing. What’s your favorite movie? I like the Marigold Hotel at the moment. Billy Elliot is my favourite. I’ve watched

the options. And I think you need to just suddenly realize that whatever you’re doing, there’s always going to be someone there with an opinion and it’s a case of take everything in and digest it and then take out what you want. Take what you want, and leave the rest. What are your hopes for next year?

Billy Elliot over and over again. Have you seen the musical? I did, I saw it when I

That I won’t be spinning around like a top

was in Vancouver and I was really disap-

not knowing what I’m doing! No, in the

pointed. I love the movie so much and I

school generally, I want the house system

think because it was Americans or Canadi-

to be bigger and better. I think it’s a great

ans trying to put it on, the accents were ap-

opportunity to get girls across the years to 68

What’s your favorite subject? Geography. I love it. I remember when I was sitting trying to decide what I wanted to do for university and I had thought geography. And this is where you go talk to people, so I went to go talk to my sister. And palling! Which was a real shame because I just love it, it’s my favorite.

she said ‘Don’t do geography! You’ll never get a job in geography!’ and I really wished I’d gone and done it. I then went and

What appeals to you most about SPF?

talked to a friend of mine and said ‘What

The community. So when I’d come from

ing Phys Ed’ and I said ‘That’s a good

my school where there was a really tight

idea!’ so that’s how I got into Phys Ed. I ac-

community and it was all about making

tually ended up doing Phys Ed and Geogra-

sure that whatever we did was about the

phy, the two things I love. Geography I just

kids. And that struck me when I came

love, I could sit and listen to it all day. It’s

here, when I came to teach a lesson. The

fascinating, it aﬀects everything you do.

girls are quite nice to each other on the

Phys Ed is equally good, and to me it’s

whole, and they can be themselves and I

about the social side. High level sport I un-

was just so proud when the girls stood up

derstand and I’ve been there and I get it

and spoke in the Exploration Society meet-

but high level sport isn’t for everybody. For

ing yesterday because that doesn’t hap-

me it’s about life long health. It’s about get-

pen in every school. I think that’s important

ting kids to be comfortable in their own

because it gives people the confidence to

bodies, and to be comfortable going out

be risk takers and I have that feeling about

and playing sport. We need to make sure

Stephen Perse. And the teachers do care

the body image problem doesn’t happen

about you guys and they want you to do

especially with boys coming. We need to

well, because there’s a lot of stress on you

make sure that doesn’t happen.

are you doing?’ and she said ‘Oh, I’m do-

lot. Put on by parents, by yourselves and the teachers are just trying to make sure that in between it all you don’t just fall apart. I think it’s quite a special place, this.

Would you consider yourself a feminist? I suppose in some respects I am, the gender equality thing definitely, having said that there are times when, if I can’t open a jar, will I go and find another woman to open it? No. If there’s a guy there who could do it or if I need something lifting and the person standing next to me is a

places in Britain, where women are considered second class citizens, I do get very frustrated with that and I think it’s important that we empower woman and let them say ‘I can be me’. I would hate it if someone said to me ‘You can’t do that because you’re a girl.’ I remember when we were teaching my son to play baseball and my husband said ‘Let your mum try, she’ll show you how to do it’ and my son said ‘She can’t do it, she’s a girl!’ and my husband said ‘Let her try, you might be surprised!’ and I whacked it out, and my little boy said ‘Oh!’. So I said to him ‘James, I want you to know that girls can do things just as well as boys’. So I suppose yes, yes I am. Interview by Zehra Munir

guy, I won’t be pig headed. Common sense is where I come from, all the time. Do I agree with the fact that women even within sport are always paid less? And that the media coverage of their sport is less? No, and I think it’s awful, I remember the women’s rugby world cup and it came through a little on the front page and then it was just soccer, soccer, soccer. I get really frustrated with that, and I think it’s time the media was fair to both sides. When I hear about some of the horror stories in some places of the world, and some

The Aftermath of the Scottish Referendum

Wars and rivalries between Scotland and

This year, campaign groups worked over-

England go back hundreds of years and al-

time to convince voters that their option

liances between the two have broken

would be better for Scotland. On the pro-

down multiple times, but the current

separatist side, the Yes campaign argued

United Kingdom has remained united for

that Scottish voices should decide Scot-

more than 300 years. Although proposi-

tish issues and pointed out that more

tions for a referendum have been made

seats were held by English elected politi-

several times in recent years, a split

cians than by Scottish, giving England an

seemed unlikely, until last year - when par-

unfair advantage in the UK Parliament. Ad-

liament approved a referendum on Scot-

ditionally, they were keen to remove Brit-

tish independence, for September this

ain's nuclear submarines from Scotland

year.

and made sure to remind voters that Scot

nied an independent Scotland the right to use the pound and gave Scottish shipyards a lucrative contract, only to hint they would lose it should Scotland vote for Independence. The BBC's coverage of election night was extensive, with radio stations and TV chanAlex Salmond was first minister of Scotland during the referendum. land's income per capita is greater than England's. A report in the financial times was published which supported this point, claiming an independent Scotland would be richer than France. Meanwhile the better together campaign pointed out the financial risk of the split, including the possibility of further instability in Scotland's banks, as well as the diďŹ&#x192;culty of re-

nels dedicated exclusively to the election, ready to record the No campaign's landslide victory, with only four regions going to the Yes vote. However, recent polls by the agency yougov have suggested a dramatic change of heart. Not only would half the population support the holding of a second referendum in five years time, but if the referendum were held today, the result might well be diďŹ&#x20AC;erent from that in September.

application for the EU and the two years in

So why do Scotland suddenly wish to

which Scotland would have to find an alter-

separate after all?

native currency before they could join the euro. In response to the yes campaign's fi-

One reason might be the conduct of pro-

nancial claims, they pointed out that while

unionists in Glasgow. On the day following

Scotland's income is high, so is their ex-

the referendum, riots broke out in the city.

penditure and their oil revenue has

Union supporters gathered in a previous

dropped dramatically in recent times.

Yes vote rallying point. While in the day the celebrations were peaceful, at night rowdy

All of the UK's three major parties were

supporters gathered and began throwing

open in their support of the No campaign

flares. Attacks were made on Yes voters

and did all possible to make trouble for

and several were injured until police were

Yes Scotland. Among other things they de-

brought in to stop the violence. 72

Another reason indicated by the polls is Scotland's worry about lack of representation in the UK parliament. The survey suggested more Scots would support a referendum if a Tory government were elected. Scotland also tends to feel more positively towards the European Union. Should Britain opt out of the union, the polls also indicate, the Scots would be far more likely to back independence. So maybe the September referendum isn't the end of the story. Certainly many members of the Yes campaign have no intention of giving up the fight and it seems unlikely the question will simply drop. For now, however, the uneasy union remains. By Poppy Robertson

Christmas is Coming! Yes, Christmas is only a few weeks away. We've all been busy and working hard in school, but now is the time to relax and get into the Christmas spirit. Although I'm sure you're all busy enough as it is with plans with family and friends, if you do find yourself with any time to spare while you're sitting around wondering what to do with the increasingly short days, here are a few things you could try to fill your time out of the cold

What would we do without hot cocoa at Christmas time (or any time really!)? And why not switch it up a bit by making your own at home. All you need is milk and Nutella (or any other chocolate spread), (marshmallows optional but recommended!) and under 5 minutes of your time Start with one cup of milk, and add 2-3 tablespoons of Nutella. Then microwave for 1-2 minutes and viola! Your hot chocolate is ready. Dollop on as many marshmallows as you want and even add chocolate sauce/powder on top to make it even more delicious. And while you're in the kitchen, why not try something a bit more complex, by indulging in a quick microwavable mug cake? First, get a mug that you can microwave (i.e. Not metal), and measure out cup of flour, followed by 3 table spoons of sugar and 2 cocoa powder. Next crack an egg on top, careful not to get any shell in there, 3 table spoons of milk and 3 of (sunflower) oil, and top it all off with 3 table spoons of chocolate chips, a sprinkling of salt and a dash of vanilla essence. Mix all the ingredients together and pop into the microwave for 2 minutes (depending on how powerful your microwave is- you must ensure the egg is cooked!), and you're all done and ready to enjoy a delicious chocolate cake from a mug

Now this next one takes a little bit more creativity but gives you a chance to really get into the beanie season and put some broken or unwanted jewellery to good use. Start by getting together your plain beanie, the jewellery you want to use and a needle and thread. Then using some pliers (you're bound to have some somewhere) remove the chain or unwanted part of the jewellery as seen in the picture. Next comes the fiddly bit. Thread your needle and place the jewellery where you want it on the beanie, then carefully start sewing the item onto the hat - this may take a while, but if done properly you'll really reap the rewards later! As well as jewellery you can also add sequins and glitter to really add to your creation, though remember, sometimes less is more. Once you've done this, you're all done, and you're ready to wear your beanie out and about in the cold weather, and show off how stylish you are! And finally, Christmas just wouldn't be complete without some homemade decorations! We've all done the classic star shaped cookies or the 'design your own ball ball' but now we're suggesting you take it one step further. These string baubles are absolutely stunning and really not as complicated as they may look; with a little time and patience you'll be a pro in no time. You'll need string, a ballon and strong glue, sparkles optional. Start by blowing up the ballon so it's a small round shape, and tie off the end. Then take your string and carefully put the glue on one side of it -if you want to put sparkles on as well then you'll have to get your hands a little messier and fully coat the string with glue and glitter. You can then start laying the string onto the balloon, but be careful not to wrap it too tight, otherwise the balloon will burst and make sure you don't go too close to the tie of the balloon; also try to work reasonably quickly to avoid the glue drying before all of the string is applied. Once the string is in place and the glue has set firmly, you can get a pin and burst the balloon, being careful to catch the bauble if the balloon's tie comes straight out- if it doesn't, then proceed to gently pull the burst balloon out from the string case. You can then get a bit of ribbon or coloured string so you can tie your bauble on the tree, and present your masterpiece to everyone. 75

PHOTOGRAPHY Definition: the art or practice of taking and processing photographs.

30 day Photography Challenge

Photography is a way to capture history and memories. It can be used to record a historical event, like the picture taken of the Earth from space Taken by William Anders. The Crew of Apollo 8 were the first humans to witness Earthrise, on December 24, 1968. However it can be used to capture memories like a babies first steps or other similar major points in a persons or child's life, which every parent has in a scrapbook somewhere. Photography can also be used in art, to express oneself or to make sights that many people will never be able to see first hand, widely available to all. You DON'T NEED a fancy camera to take good pictures. So here are some researched tips on how to take good pictures. 1.Photoshop, snapseed, any photo editing software can change an alright photo to an amazing photo. If the light is not good in your photo you can fix it, to make the photo as it would have been, if you had, had the right light. 2. Remember this -Cameras don't take photos, photographers do. Don't rely on the camera to do all the work. 3. Avoid using flash, although it injects more light into the photo it has harsh eďŹ&#x20AC;ects on the subjects. Flash makes colours look faded and washed out. 4. Evaluate what's in your photo before you take it. For example if you take a photo without thinking, you might see something in it which you didn't notice or want before. If you spend a little time before taking the snapshot, there is still time to move the focus so that, For example if there is a table corner in the picture, it can be cropped out. 5. Take photos of what you care about. Then your more likely to take a better a photo as you would want to spend more time on it to make it perfect.