gair rhydd Monday November 01 2010 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 934
Obama’s Dramas With impending midterm elections in the US, Politics takes a look at Obama’s presidency so far. << 2)3%'54
!"#$%&"'()*'+,--,.)-%/%**'0,&"-)0",-*''0)#*%'01),* << 2)3%'4 Inside this week:
Animal testing We get your thoughts on Cardiff ’s controversial animal experiements which were revealed in last week’s issue News, page 4
A great gamble Our resident columnist talks about disproportionate tuition fees and highlights the plight of the Humanities undergrad Columnist, page 11
PHOTO: KATHARINA JOITE
Is love dead?
Fury over fees Pippa Lewis News Editor Students and Elected Officers have voted to pass a motion in favour of fighting against fees and cuts. An Emergency Members Meeting was held on Tuesday October 26 in the Great Hall at the Students’ Union in an attempt to formulate a policy and response to the recent Lord Browne Review. The meeting, the first of its kind, provided students and Elected Officers the opportunity to openly discuss the ongoing issue of higher education funding and the proposed rise in tuition fees. The motion to fight against fees and cuts was passed with an over-
whelming majority, providing the Union with a mandate on which to oppose the fees. A second motion was then passed in which members voted to lobby the Welsh Assembly Government against a rise in tuition fees and funding cuts in Wales. The success of the meeting was questioned however when many students left before the first motion had been passed and the second motion had to be rushed through without the proper debating time due to dwindling numbers. During the meeting Olly Birrell, Students’ Union President, emphasised the unique position that Cardiff University holds as the largest and only Russell Group University in Wales.
The proposals put forward by the Browne Review, if implemented in their entirety, would mean that universities have the ability to charge variable top-up fees with no cap limit. Figures released by the Union state that many first year students from Wales could suffer over a 100% increase in fees when studying in England. The Welsh Assembly has a history of wanting to support higher education in Wales and Welsh students, but it is expected that if the Westminster government votes to pass the recommendations outlined in the Lord Browne Review then Wales will have to follow suit in order to remain competitive. The Comprehensive Spending
Review, announced earlier this month, outlined cuts of 40% to the overall budget of higher education (excluding research) compared to average cuts of 20% across other government departments. As a result, tuition fees are expected to rise in order to bridge the gap in funding. The Union argued that the abolition of the tuition fees cap would create a ‘market within higher education effectively creating a two-tier system among universities with the privileged elite charging more,’ as well as effectively pricing poorer students out of the running for top universities.
Continued on page 3
Can a relationship at University really stand the test of time and distance? Opinion finds out... Opinion, page 9
Fair treatment? Politics discuss the sexualisation of female politicians who may have equal rights in their work, but are scrutinised by the media Politics, page 13
Lazy in reality Features examine reality television programmes and think about whether we are a lazy nation when it comes to entertainment Features, page 17
Tipping point Science discuss the threats to our rainforests, and contemplate the impact that these threats could have on Earth’s biodiversity Science and Environment, page 20
The FA Cup Alex Winter gives us a little footballing education. This week: the ‘lifeline in the struggle for survival’ Sport, page 29 And more, in Wales’ number one independent student newspaper
02News
gr EDITOR Sarah Powell
CO-ORDINATOR Elaine Morgan DEPUTY EDITOR Dom Kehat NEWS Morgan Applegarth Miranda Atty Pippa Lewis Ben Price Hannah Pendleton FEATURES Zoe Bridger Laura Brunt OPINION Holly Howe Chris Williams POLITICS James Dunn Oliver Smith COLUMNIST Henry Burton SOCIETIES Bianca London LISTINGS Sarah Powell SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT Tom Clarke Jack Parker SPORT Alex Bywater Lucy Morgan Alex Winter CONTRIBUTORS Niyi Ajuwari Laura Amey Daniel Angelini Andrew Arthur Becky Bartlett Daniel Brockley Bethan Cable Ed Carey Emily Cope William Davies Lucy Davey Zenia Diwan Sophie Gidley Jo Greet William Hayward Owain Mortimer Vinod Patel James Richardson Luke Slade Daniel Thompson Amina Waya Faith Westlake Darren Wong PROOFREADERS Georgia Gratton Sophie Keeling Anna Redbond Luke Sahota Joanna Crawley Catriona Camacho CORRECTIONS Bethan Cable wrote the article 'To Tweet or not to Tweet' in last week's issue (933) Original Design: Paul Stollery
Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd • news@gairrhydd.com
Students make use of Advice Centre Ben Price News Editor Cardiff University’s Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) had 352 new cases in September, a new report reveals, with the majority of these received from September 22 onwards. Enquiries ranged from issues involving health to debt and budgeting. Academic issues were a frequent line of enquiry, taking up 16% of all cases. In addition, 14% of cases were funding based. However, with a percentage of 38%, private housing constituted the largest numberof queries. ARC advises on a range of academic issues including appeals, complaints, unfair practice, attendance, exam misconduct, plagiarism and interruption of study. In September, trends show that some students seek advice and assistance with regard to an appeal after their exam re-sits. Speaking to gair rhydd, ARC provided the following example of a study that involves a student who received advice on how she would be able to appeal after being asked to leave her course by the University, after failing her modules in her re-sit exams. ARC explained that a ‘first year student failed the majority of her exams in May. She received her re-
sults in June and was allowed to resit the failed modules in the August re-sit period. The student was ill with glandular fever over the summer months, but failed to inform the University. She attended her re-sits and found out that she had failed in early September. Visiting ARC, an adviser aided the student on the grounds of appeal and offered her guidance on how to submit an appeal form’. The report also reveals how ARC were approached by a number of students seeking advice on finance and funding. The advice given to students covered areas such as securing funding for PhD and Masters courses, payment dates for tuition fees and accommodation, charities and trusts providing financial support to students and support in accessing Cardiff University scholarships. With regard to private housing issues, ARC stated that in September many Erasmus students arrive and need assistance to find accommodation. However, ARC also deals with complaints from students who have issues with their landlords. Case studies from ARC reveal that some students sought advice on how to deal with the situation of not having received their deposit back from their landlord at the end of their tenancy. ARC helped to point out that it
was the legal requirement of the landlord to return the deposit, and assisted the student in drafting a formal letter to the landlord requesting details of where her deposit was and for her deposit to be released. Another ARC case study on private housing describes how a group of students, through the advice of an ARC advisor, managed to get released from their contract and receive their deposit back. This was due to failure of the landlord to ensure that extensive building work was complete in time for the students to move into their house. Commenting on the service provided by ARC to students of the University, Welfare and Campaigns Officer Rose Savage said: "ARC is an invaluable service that provides support to vulnerable students throughout their time here. "Providing advocacy role, encouraging the confidence levels of students to speak for themselves in cases that go to appeals, support and advice roles also. “Specialist workers are there to focus on the major issues students face, i.e. housing, where laws are complex and impenetrable.” A more in-depth look into ARC housing enquiries will feature in gair rhydd's upcoming housing issue, due for release on Monday November 29.
Police appeal after Cathays muggings Morgan Applegarth News Editor Cardiff Police are appealing for witnesses after two robberies have taken place in the Cathays area. During the early hours of Thursday October 14, a 26-yearold male was approached and assaulted by two men on Harriet Street. The victim had his mobile phone stolen. On Tuesday October 19, a 20year-old male had personal items stolen from him as he walked down Coburn Street at around midnight. A brown bag was snatched from his person, which contained his laptop, mobile phone and wallet. The appeal over the two incidents came just a week after Cardiff Police began a plea for witnesses following a female student who was sexually assaulted on Cathays Terrace as she walked home in the early hours of the morning. Anyone with any information regarding either incident are encouraged to contact Cathays CID on 02890 5272567 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Lecture abandoned after gas scare Ed Carey Reporter Around 350 first-year Law students were subjected to noxious fumes permeating their way through the Julian Hodge lecture theatre on Wednesday October 20. The Public Law lecture had to be abandoned halfway through, after lecturer Professor Phil Fennel was alerted to the seriousness of the situation as the students began to smell fumes. He began voicing his concerns for the health and safety of his students, questioning whether or not the lecture should carry on. The evacuation of the lecture led to delays in the timetable schedule, as the theatre was out of use for 40 minutes. The delay caused confusion among a class of first-year Business Management students, who were scheduled to be in the theatre.
University staff inspected the problem, discovering that some contracted workers had placed the exhaust pipes of their petrol-fuelled machinery in front of the lecture theatre’s vents. A spokesperson from the University has stated: “In response to a complaint of a smell of burning plastic, a lecture at the Julian Hodge building was temporarily halted and students evacuated, as a precautionary measure. “Later an investigation established no cause for concern and, after a short delay, students were allowed back into the building and the lecture was completed.” The incident has raised doubts over the University’s handling of the situation, and the lack of information given to the students in attendance. Students were sat in the lecture for approximately 35 minutes while noxious gas was being pumped into the theatre.
A Law student who was in the lecture has said: “This is clearly a very serious matter and one that has been dealt with to no degree of satisfaction. “This should have been responded to with an honest, full disclosure
of the facts and an apology. That fact that it wasn’t, raises further speculation and concern. Read next week's issue of gair rhydd for a full response from the University.
Above: Julian Hodge building
News03
Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd • news@gairrhydd.com
Students unite against cuts in emergency members meeting
Continued from front The Students’ Union, under the support of the students has therefore resolved to stand against attempts to lift the cap on tuition fees and a cut in university funding, as well as actively campaigning against the Browne Review proposals in England by calling on MPs and Vice-Chancellors to voice their concerns about increased fees. On a local level, the Union has
pledged to lobby the Welsh Assembly government for a ‘fair funding system in Wales.’ Sarah Ingram, Academic and University Affairs Officer said of the event: "I was thrilled to see the number of students turning out for the Emergency Members meeting. We now have two clear messages to give out to Westminster and to the Welsh Assembly Government: that Cardiff University students don't want to pay more in tuition fees and
The sweetest sound of Swn William Davies Reporter Returning for its fourth consecutive year, Swn Festival hosted an array of musical and artistic talent throughout Cardiff ’s city centre. Curator, BBC Radio One DJ and Cardiff native, Huw Stephens helped assemble the three-day festival that saw over 150 acts performing across sixteen different venues within the Welsh capital. Venues such as Clwb Ifor Bach, Millennium Music Hall and Dempsey’s were filled to capacity with crowds eager to see musical acts such as Swans, Raw Kwame, The Vaccines and Welsh rockers Kids In Glass Houses.
As well as live music, free daytime seminars were held by the Welsh Music Foundation to provide festival-goers with an insight into the music industry. Notable seminar leaders at the Chapter Arts Centre venue included BBC 6 Music DJ, Steve Lamacq and music journalist Will Hodgkinson. This year also marked the first theatre performances at Swn, with local theatre group Dirty Protest commissioning plays throughout the opening night. For more information, reviews, interviews and photos on Swn Festival 2010 check out the upcoming issue of Quench.
that if this happens then the Welsh Assembly Government should subsidise these costs. “More specific motions to do with fees will continue to be developed through Student Council and any students can come along to these meetings every other Tuesday, although only Student Council members can vote on motions. As the largest Welsh University, Cardiff has a particular duty to petition Leighton Andrews the
Education Minister in Wales and Assembly Members to ensure future generations of students will not be put off by the ever soaring costs of Higher Education and that is what we mean to do." Carwyn Jones, First Minister for Wales is expected to make an announcement on the position of the Welsh Assembly Government on Tuesday November 2 in the Aberconway Building.
freewords EDITORIAL est.1972 Alex Bywater Comment The Emergency Members meeting held in the Great Hall on Tuesday October 26 was good, in principle. As a student body it is important to debate how the cuts are going to affect the University as a whole but I can’t help thinking that the motions passed will have little effect. Clearly, the first motion: that as a student body we should fight the fees and cuts made to higher education made by Westminster, should have been passed. The second motion however, on whether or not the Union should lobby the Welsh Assembly Government to create 'a country of fair education' seemes vague and potentially ineffective. In an ideal world of course, it would work. Welsh universities are unique in their ability to lobby the devolved powers of the Welsh Assembly and this may mean that Welsh students will benefit. At the end of the day though, it is important to realise that as a nation we are struggling under a national debt to the tune of £83 billion and that cuts are necessary to reinvigorate our economy. As students, it is clear that a rise in tuition fees is something we would oppose. The key question is however, what makes higher education any different from the NHS, defence, and local government or any other government department for that matter? Cuts are undoubtedly tough, and it is understandable that people are opposed to them however, the fact is that they are necessary and that people should look at the wider picture.
04News
Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd • news@gairrhydd.com
Animal Testing: Your thoughts Following last week's issue, gair rhydd asked Cardiff students to respond to the University's controversial kitten testing
Cardiff to launch Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Guide Hannah Pendleton News Editor
James Stainer Civil Engineering “If the university is found to be within legislation, with a clear aim for the testing, then I agree with it. If there is another method that causes less stress to the animals that is equally beneficial to science, then this should be used irrespective of cost.”
Ashley Cope Human Resources Masters
Ellie Quinlan Foreign Languages
Rachael Main Psychology
“As long as the animals are being tested in a humane and controlled way and it is beneficial to science then I agree with it. Hopefully the tests will help humans in some way which is important. However, testing on animals should be researched in order to see if it is going to be beneficial and necessary for the experiment.”
“I’m against animal testing. It is a breach of animal rights and nowadays, with technology exponentially improving, scientists should be looking to find other ways of testing.”
“Animal testing on animals such as rats and mice is acceptable as it is beneficial to science research. However, I disagree with the use of domestic animals like kittens.”
<< Have your say on www.gairrhydd.com
Vice-Chancellor honoured by Chinese University Becky Bartlett Reporter Cardiff University’s Vice-Chancellor Dr David Grant has been honoured by China’s Capital Medical University, in recognition of the two institutions’ pioneering cancer research partnership. For several years, both institutions have been working together, researching new approaches into tackling breast and prostate cancer. Now, Capital Medical University has made Dr Grant an international adviser, making him the first person from the UK to receive the honour. Dr Grant received his honour during a ceremony held in Beijing, which was attended by representatives of the British Embassy and
the British Council of China. Commenting on his award, Dr Grant said: “I view this as an acknowledgment of the excellent work between our two institutions. “By pooling research expertise and sharing knowledge we can build upon the existing knowledge and make real progress.” In 2007, both institutions signed a formal agreement allowing Capital Medical researchers to come to Cardiff ’s Medical School and work with one of the world’s leading cancer researchers Professor Wen Jiang. Since the agreement, six Capital Medical researchers have come to Cardiff to work on developing an understanding as to how breast and prostate cancer spreads around the body, stemming from the original tumour.
Above: Dr David Grant is honoured by Capital Medical University
Above: Do bankers secretly got a kick out of the economic crisis?
Bankers feel the thrill Lecturer suggests the economic crisis may have been a result of bankers' urge for self-destruction James Richardson Reporter According to Dr Paul Crosthwaite, a lecturer from Cardiff ’s School of English, Communication and Philosophy, the bankers who led the economy to destruction may have actually enjoyed the experience. Dr Crosthwaite has published an article, ‘Blood on the Trading Floor: Waste, Sacrifice, and Death in Financial Crises’, which claims that bankers may have felt a sensation of euphoria at the annihilation of their own institutions due to an innate urge for self-destruction. This phenomenon was termed the ‘death drive’ by Sigmund Freud. Dr Crosthwaite has drawn on an analysis of various novels about financial professionals to argue
that there is an aspect of masochistic fulfilment in the experience of making losses. His research questions conventional economic theories, which assume that investors are rational, and that they always aim to follow measures that are most likely to increase their own prosperity. According to Dr Crosthwaite, the willingness of banks to deal in high risk ‘sub-prime’ loans illustrates the idea that bankers unconsciously desire economic crises. Dr Crosthwaite said: “To avoid a repeat of the ‘great recession,’ it’s vital that policymakers and regulators limit the capacity of financial professionals to engage in excessive practices by curbing the disproportionate levels of risk that we’ve seen in the financial sector in recent years.”
Cardiff University is hosting the launch of the sixth and biggest edition of Britain’s Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Recruitment Guide, ‘Starting Out’. Stonewall Cymru who are launching the edition are featuring over 450 employers in the celebration, offering students, graduates and jobseekers a chance to use the event as a way to network with potential employers and interact with the LGB community. Mark Anderson, head of LGBT+ Association has said: "As a University, and as an association we welcome Stonewall once again to showcase their comprehensive guide ‘Starting Out’. In the current economic climate, every piece of advice is important for students to consider for their career. For LGBT+ students this can sometimes be difficult, as many employers in the UK still treat their LGBT+ staff unfairly, and this can make a choice of career even harder. “Stonewall provide a valuable benchmarking service to not only provide students with the best employers who treat all their staff with dignity and respect and don't suffer from discrimination, but also to allow other employers to see that this is important and they can learn something from being more inclusive. “Stonewall's ‘Peak Perfomance’ and the topic of the Pink Pound has proven that LGBT+ employees are more confident and more ambitious when they are out and proud in work. “I recommend that all LGBT+ students around Cardiff attend this event, just to learn what you shouldn't have to endure; there is hope." The event is free for Diversity Champion members and will take place at 6-8pm on Wednesday, November 3 in Cardiff University’s Optometry building.
News05
Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd • news@gairrhydd.com
Clegg announces proposal Wingman success to cap rising tuition fees Male grooming product finds its Vince Cable suggests a possible fees cap at £7000 Zenia Diwan Reporter
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has announced that universities will not be allowed to set unlimited fees for students. The decision comes as the government continues to be embroiled in a discussion over Lord Browne’s review of England’s higher education system. When the issue of fee capping was put to Clegg, he replied that the proposal for a tuition fees cap was “correct”. Business secretary, Vince Cable told Sky News: “I don’t think there’s any prospect of having unlimited fees - that simply is not going to arise.” The Review suggests that universities in England should set their own fees but face a levy on amounts of more than £6000. The Browne Review has received a thumbs up from The Russell
way to the high street retailers Jo Greet Reporter
Group. Dr. Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group said: “Rowing back from Browne and re-imposing a cap would be a real waste of an opportunity to provide high quality education. However, while we acknowledge the need for some contribution to the costs of higher education, we are concerned about the large size of the levies proposed by Browne.”
Re-imposing a cap would be a real waste of opportunity Currently, students at universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland pay a maximum fee of £3290 per year, but Vince Cable confirmed that he is considering the idea of placing a £7000 fee cap. Scotland is facing pressure for
graduate contributions instead of providing free higher education for Scottish students studying in the country. There is also a proposal to introduce a two-tier fees cap. The Welsh Assembly has yet to make a decision on their tuition fees policy in Wales. The Deputy Prime Minister admitted that he was apprehensive about Browne’s theory of ‘unlimited fees’. However, Clegg pointed out that the proposals of the Browne Review will provide a fairer system for poorer students and sufficient funding for top universities. The Labour Education Secretary, Andy Burnham, opposed these plans stating: “I believe they are creating an elitist education system where the best universities will only be for the very well-off.” The government will deliver its final verdict on the Browne Review later this year.
Cardiff University graduate Stuart Jolley’s male grooming products have been launched into Boots, one of the UK’s leading health and beauty retailers. Jolley, a graduate from the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, created Wingman Deodorising Wipes after entering the University’s Spark Business Idea Competition in 2009. Wingman Deodorising Wipes have already been on trial in over 260 Boots stores nationwide and a replenishment order has been requested. The wipes, which were originally developed for use at music festivals or urban travel, have been redesigned and can now be used for allover male body deodorising. Jolley is now exploring various avenues of expansion and hopes to generate interest from major flight companies including Virgin and British Airways.
Jolley is also due to appear in a BBC 2 series presented by Dragon Den Star and millionaire businessman Theo Paphitis. ‘The Next Big Thing’ is scheduled to screen in the New Year.
Take advantage of this service
Stuart Jolley said: “Student Enterprise was extremely helpful during my time at Cardiff University. Not only did they provide Wingman with a start-up fund to get the business off the ground, they also provided invaluable advice and support during my time at Cardiff. Anyone thinking of starting a business should really take advantage of this excellent service.” The Spark’s Business Idea 2011 competition, run by the University’s Student Enterprise in partnership with Banco Santander, launches this month and gives students the opportunity to showcase their business ideas and talent.
World News06 Work of Art?
Gobbing off...
Luke Slade Reporter
Hannah Pendleton News Editor
Gabbi Colette, an Art student in Chicago, has publicised to the world the future of artistic temperament. Her ravishing performance ‘Interior Semiotics’ comprises of opening a can of Spaghetti-O’s (after trying her hardest for two minutes), rubbing them on her top, and preceding to touch herself whilst urinating over a table. This cinematic feature presents the philosophical and profound nature of hipster culture.
A man has entered the record books after claiming the title of the world's widest mouth at a competition in Rome. Researchers spent two years trying to find 20-year-old Fransicso Domingo Joaquim, also known as the 'Jaw of Awe', who gained his repuation on YouTube. The contestants of the Big Mouth competition were required to fit large items including cups, saucers and beer bottles in their mouths. Fransico can put a can inside of
his mouth, 14 times in a minute.
Winning lying down Laura Amey Reporter At Spain’s first siesta competition Pedro Lopez, from Ecuador, triumphed by sleeping for 17 minutes amid the noise of a bustling Madrid shopping centre. The 62-year-old unemployed security worker gained extra points for snoring at 70 decibels. Mr. Lopez won £890 for his performance and was “so happy to be the first champion”. The contest’s organisers expressed concerns that the Spanish tradition of the afternoon siesta was threatened by the pressures of the modern world.
Bring your own bombs
Hair salon hold up Going solo
Parents unearth grenade in son's wardrobe
Daniel Angelini Reporter
Hannah Pendleton News Editor A live WWII grenade has been discovered in a boy's room at his family home in Kuchl, Austria. The grenade was found by his father during a near-death attempt to tidy his son's bedroom, when he saw it in a a pile of clothing in his wardrobe. More disturbingly, it was later brought to his parents attention that the grenade had been in the wardrobe for an entire year, following a trip to the beaches of Normandy.
A New York police officer has become a hero after stopping an armed robbery at a hair salon whilst getting her hair done. Feris Jones, a respected NYPD officer, was off duty when the gunman burst into the salon and held the hairdressers and clients at gunpoint. Police say Jones identified herself as a police officer and was shot at by the robber before taking out her pistol, shooting the gun out of his hand and shooting the door handle of the salon. The criminal, Winston Cox,
smashed a window and fled, but was tracked down by police and arrested a few hours later. New York City Council's Letitia James praised Jones’ heroism, quipping “You should never mess with a black woman getting her hair done.”
Lucy Davey Reporter Fed up with the potential partners available in Taipei City and facing social pressure to wed, 30-year old Chen Wei-yih has taken the unusual step of deciding to marry herself. The office worker has reportedly hired a banquet hall and wedding planner for next month’s $5,675 ceremony. “I was just hoping that more people would love themselves,” said Chen, adding that she is not antimarriage and plans to marry again if she finds a man up to the job. The bride is planning a solo honeymoon in Australia.
Opinion08 The secret behind Barclays profits Jack Parker Science and Environment
It’s the time of year again when recognised businesses invade our departments with their stalls and free pens in search of work-hungry students. But behind the summer placements and attractive starting salaries, many of these large corporations have bad histories and stories that they don’t put on their shiny glossy leaflets. Take Barclays, for example. Over the last few years allegations have hit the media in regards to the banks’ involvement in Robert Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe. Mugabe’s land grabbing policy aimed to give land to poor black Zimbabweans which instead ended up being under the ownership of leading figures within the Zanu-PF party. Thousands of white farmers had their livelihoods destroyed. In response to these human rights abuses Barclays lent £750 million to the new landowning elite in the space of half a year. The bank also provided two of Mugabe’s henchmen with bank accounts, bypassing EU sanctions against the ministers by providing services through a 67% owned local subsidiary. Another area of controversy surrounding the UKs major banks is that of the arms trade. In 2008 the organisation ‘War on Want’ published statistics which revealed that all of our main high street banks were using customers’ savings to finance weapons. Some will argue that ignoring the arms trade completely is a difficult policy for a bank to pull off. Even the Co-operative, a bank well known for its ethical stance, does not completely rule out investment in arms. But Barclays goes a step further, having
total arms investments totalling an estimated £7.3 billion. Even worse is that this includes investments in areas of high moral concern including cluster munitions and depleted uranium. Cluster munitions are spread over vast areas and many are left unexploded. They therefore remain as a deadly risk to civilians, especially children, during and after conflict. In 2007 the organisation ‘Handicap International’ reported that 98% of casualties caused by cluster munitions are civilians. These problems are hardly a revelation. In Vietnam, civilians have been stumbling upon the remnants left by US forces decades ago and deaths are still occurring today. Even the British army has now signed an international convention banning the weapons, but global investment persists. Questionable investment is old news when it comes to Barclays. In 1986 the bank was forced to pull out of South Africa after criticism of its involvement in the apartheid regime. Of even more interest is that the source of this criticism was poor but angry students. Barclay’s share in the UK student market plummeted from a respectable 27% to just 15% by 1986. It’s clear then where Barclays’ priorities lie. Sure, every bank is there to make money rather than to provide a service. But Barclays go a step further, dodging law and sweeping all morals under the carpet. The student boycott didn’t create a revelation within the bank over its ethical ways, it simply made investment in South Africa less profitable, and they left the country soon after. Students targeting unethical banks isn’t an 80s fashion either. It’s still happening today, right here in Cardiff. At the end of the last academic year student council passed a motion which began the long and
The iconic Barclays Building in London surrounded by some more apt iconic pictures. laborious process of the student’s union analysing its own banking investments. In December our societies council rejected a £5,000 donation from Barclays bank to help fund Go Global. I’m not going to say that students can’t work for Barclays. I’m not even going to block them from entering our university. But history has shown that the relationship between this mone-grabbing bank and the student community is noth-
ing less than heated. What disturbs me is that as Barclays sets up its stalls and tantalises us with its free pens, its dark history will be hidden from view. They won’t tell us about our previous generation boycotting them, or our previous rejection of their funding. Even the wellgroomed manager behind the stall will likely be ignorant of their employer’s history. So before we give them our time and effort and accept their salary in return for the skills
earned by hard work at university, let’s consider all of the facts. Barclays’ perception amongst us will suffer from its banker’s bonuses and its association with the economic decline. But they are responsible for much more than that. Land has been taken, regimes have been bolstered, guns have been financed and civilians have been killed, all in the name of profit.
Jolie's Eastern European Adventure Niyi Ajuwon Opinion Writer Angelina Jolie has caused controversy with her film that depicts the lives of thousands of women that were raped and tortured in Bosnian camps during the Bosnian war. It is reported that 50,000 women were abused during this time. Tribunals are still sentencing many of the war criminals who committed these atrocities. Jolie’s film apparently focuses on the fictional relationship between a Muslim woman and how she falls in love with her rapist. It is clear to see why many have objections to the film, including Gavrilo Grahovac, the country’s culture minister
and Bakira Hasecic, a rape victim and head of the Association of Victims of War. In fact, Grahovac stopped Jolie from filming in his country and Hasecic, who has not yet read the script, described the concept of the film as an outrage. “We want Angelina Jolie to come here to us and assure us she is not going to offend us”. And in the case that Jolie does not meet with them, “we should make a film about her life”. However I think that Angelina Jolie has the right to interpret the events of the Bosnian camps in whatever way she pleases. Jolie’s directing debut, and the controversy now surrounding it, will make people more aware and interested in finding out about the war.
That being said, the film is simply a film and should be taken as such; it is meant to draw emotion from the viewer, but not be taken as fact. Besides, there have been many war films telling stories from different perspectives: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Inglorious Basterds, Letters from Iowa Jima and 300, to name but a few. Jolie is not the first and certainly won’t be the last to do an adaptation, albeit fictional, from a different cultural viewpoint. As a more contemporary example, take anti-Islam Pastor Terry Jones; even though I don’t agree with his ideals, he still has a right to voice them. Serbia may ban the film being shown in their country but it will become forbidden fruit
and people will find a way to watch it anyway. If Garillo and Hasecic feel this strongly about it they should make their own film about the rape camps to counter Jolie’s. Instead they just complain that by creating the film the ‘evil’ powers of Hollywood have done their country a grave injustice. It is not even the whole country that feels this way; Belma Becirbasic, senior editor and writer who performed academic research on the camps, thinks that the film would be a good way for the country to acknowledge its past and move on. “Behind the story of Angelina Jolie and her film is the inability of a society and culture to go forward
and put the war behind us. This is the first time I've taken the course of writing about the real Bakira and the other side of the war victims organisations.” “Because if you write about that other side, how they exploit public discourse, you offend them. What has happened around this film has been an excuse. Next week there will be something else for them to take issue with. And in Bakira's case what has happened is that she has monopolised the discussion of Bosnia's raped." The question remains, can there ever be a war film made that won’t cause controversy? Doubtful.
Opinion09
Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd • opinion@gairrhydd.com
Could you bet your relationship will last? Amina Waya Opinion Writer I came to university as a single girl and I was quite happy with myself; that is, until I realised four of my flatmates were in committed, longterm relationships. I found myself missing the familiar routines of being in a relationship, though I have never had a serious one myself. I just felt like I was missing out on so much. However, in the last week a series of unrelated events has reassured me of my single girl status. Firstly watching two couples battle it out in my kitchen while partially drunk made me glad to be unattached. It was comical but I knew that that was one thing I didn’t miss about being in a relationship. After this, I read an article about a student from Durham who has placed a £100 bet on being with his girlfriend by graduation in two years’ time. Some might see the romance in this but I am forever pessimistic. Therefore my first reaction was more ‘cringe’ than ‘cute.’ So naturally I was curious to see other people's reactions to this. “It’s too much pressure and I wouldn’t want to jinx it,” one girl replied when I asked if she would make such a gesture for her partner. Everyone else in the room nodded in agreement. As I probed my smitten friends more it was interesting to see their reactions to my questions about university and relationships. When asked where their respective relationships would be in two years’ time, most admitted
to being wary about the future and refused to think too much about it. They were all in long term relationships and worried that being with one person for so long might not be ideal. One girl did claim that nothing about being single or being with anyone else apart from her current boyfriend appealed to her. In fact she seemed quite content to be with her partner for as long as humanly possible. They mostly agreed that university had made it easier for their relationships. The reasons given for this varied from expecting it to be harder and therefore being pleasantly surprised, to fewer arguments, which is always a plus. For those whose partners don’t attend Cardiff they enjoyed the freedom of university but found all the commuting inconvenient, tiring and expensive. Although some denied ever wanting to be single, others quite openly admitted that the idea was sometimes appealing, especially when their partner was being “irritating.” Nevertheless they all agreed that they would miss the comfort of their relationships too much for it to be worth it. I remember speaking to a guy about university relationships at the start of the semester. He was adamant that coming to university single was the best choice he had made. He had specifically dumped his ex-girlfriend to give himself that ‘privilege.’ He said he was happy being single: it gave him more options. He simply refused to believe that you could have fun while being in a relationship. Needless to say I was quite shocked to hear that he
Above: Are university romances a good idea? had become quite taken with a girl that he met on a night out shortly after our conversation. Due to this I decided to get some more male opinions. Quite unlike the coherent answers from the girls, I found that the guys answers were a lot more conflicting. While one was certain that he was happy with his current partner, the other said he often
wondered what being single would feel like. He admitted that his relationship had its ups and downs, like any other, but that wasn’t reason enough for him to end it. Everyone I spoke to about the Durham student’s bet agreed that although they wouldn’t do this themselves, it was clearly a loving and romantic thought. However
there was one recurring view held mostly by the girls; what if they only stayed in the relationship for the money? After all they would be new graduates in need of money and £300 each isn’t a bad split for a phoney relationship. This is obviously quite an strange take on what some may call a love story, but a valid one nonetheless.
What's in a name? Chris Williams Opinion Editor As soon as a child is born, they need a name. No-one likes walking over to a mother and father as they cradle and coo at their newborn only to be told that it “doesn’t have a name yet”. In fact, if I’m asking a child’s name it really means that I’ve nothing better to say and am biting my lip from suggesting that the newly born sprog looks like they had a bit part in Alien, so I’m always hoping they tell me the name before I badly offend them. The thing is, there’s a lot in a name. Without names we’d pretty much have no way of talking to each other at all without stupid nicknames or some sort of strange numerical system (saying that, I live in a house with three people called 'Chris' and there’s pretty much no way of identifying who you’re talking too if we’re all in the room).
And so parents buy books, they ask friends and they spend hours and hours pouring over what to call their precious new born before coming out with pitiful names like 'Trumpton' or 'Spatula' – taking after all the celebrities who’ve raised the bar high with names such as 'Apple' and ‘Fifi Trixibelle’. In fact some children born this year in South Africa have reportedly been given names that correspond to what was going on in the football at the time like ‘yellow card’ or even ‘corner’. My personal favourite from this, though is FIFA (all in capitals). To parents it is one of the most important decisions of their lives and it seems most people in Britain think of exactly the same names. For the past two years the top ten list of names for both boys' and girls' has had no new entries and this year it’s Oliver and Olivia taking prime position as the most used boys and girls name respectively.
If names had a consciousness, I’m sure these ones would be writing their acceptance speeches already. I’m almost a bit upset by these names reaching the top spots. They’re a little too normal. All of them are nothing new, they’ve been done before again and again. It’s a bit boring, actually. Teachers, who were previously polled in names that they hated reading down the register, are being given an easy ride. Let’s start getting creative with names, Geldof managed it with a few of his kids and it’s almost completely stopped there. I know Chris Martin tried to kick it all off again with ‘Apple’ but still, not many high profile names have really come out and accepted this idea… except for one. Jason Lee (of My Name Is Earl fame) has the right idea, imagine a teacher reading down the register and getting to this name: Pilot Inspektor. Yes, I know, it is ushering
him into a job for life, but also, it’s a brilliant name. I think this name may verge on child abuse, a name that strange isn't going to make you the most favoured kid in class, unless you wear a pilot's costume every day and help other kids in the playground with their imaginary planes... actually, it may become quite useful for the other kids. When I was younger I had to create a decent name for myself when I was on the playground. Captain Chris was something that I had to create and for 15 minutes that was my name and that was my job. Pilot Inspektor has that for life, he can always be a pilot. It all come down to personal preference, I guess. Names can have all of these different meanings and be given to children for so many different reasons that judging them for it should probably at least appear slightly wrong, yet if I hear another person named after either a coun-
try or a place (which on occassion is rather the place or country of the conception) I think I will lose faith in humanity as a whole. I understand: let's go for some weird names, we can confuse foreigners when we're away on holiday. Just imagine the face of Airport security as "Bumble Hudumpadunk Smith" passes through the airport, but let's not get ahead of ourselves: placenames are a definite no-no. Placenames are usually used so that parents can recall the interesting and, often disgusting, anecdote of how, when and why the child was conceived. Everytime the Beckhams mention Brooklyn, they probably share a cheeky smile and a glance reminding them of the night that they made little Brooklyn. When he's old enough to understand, poor little Brooklyn will be disgusted.
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The great gamble
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eing Welsh and studying here too, part of my fees are paid by the Assembly (that doesn’t happen for new students any more, of course), I pay between £7 - £10+ per hour to study at Cardiff, depending on contact hours (I study English, so have never had more than ten). That’s not awful, considering it’s possible that I might get a good job. An student doing my course, though, has been paying the full whack of three thousand plus, or roughly £16 an hour minimum. So that’s £16 an hour to possibly get on a PGCE course, and equally possibly end up doing punishing shifts in a call centre. Not looking so good, and that’s just the current state of affairs. Now let’s say the current fees were doubled to £6580. Call it seven grand. Or £35 an hour. Now, would I pay that to possibly get on a supermarket graduate scheme? Would I fuck. I’d try to join a company at eighteen and work my way up, with the reasonable expectation of at least one promotion and a couple of pay rises in the three years I’d have otherwise spent at uni. Oh yeah, and I’d save myself over twenty grand in fees. And that is just the fees. If you factor in maintenance loans (sated to be £3750 a year) then you’re looking at a minimum of ten grand per year in debt, or well over £30,000 for a three-year degree. The ‘incentive’ for poorer students, a grant, has been stated as £3, 250. I doubt that’s even enough to pay half the massively increased fees, whereas toprate grants can now cover almost a year’s tuition. I don’t know how many people will actually be put off from going to uni, though. As most people already incur debts of £5-7k per year of their degree (what with fees and loans), it probably won’t make that much difference even if fees are doubled. Many of you reading this will probably owe over £20,000 when you leave, and you still came to university. Would it have made that
much difference if it was going to end up being £25k or £30k? I suspect that in many cases it wouldn’t. Personally, I am pretty pissed off even owing less than half that. I’m the only person I know who was actually pissed off about the cost of uni before coming (most of my friends, even the poorest, were of the ‘meh’ disposition, which makes the ‘debt = offputting’ argument rather spurious in my experience). Like so many others, I’m now resigned to worrying about the debt in the future. Nevertheless, I detest the ‘you can pay the debt back when you can afford it’ brigade. Yes, you can, but it’s still a millstone round your neck, and if both fees and their interest rates are hiked up, it’s going to be a fucking big millstone. The debt’s still there, still massive, and possibly useless (like paying on instalments for a car that’s long since been wrecked). If you buy a house, you accrue massive debt, but you’ve got a house to live in. If you do a degree, you accrue massive debt for something that could prove effectively worthless. I suppose at least you can’t have the degree repossessed if you can’t pay your debt. Not yet… I agree with the statement ‘university should be a right, not a privilege’. I add ‘if you’re good enough’ (I suspect many people, and many courses, aren’t; but that’s another argument). Yet uni doesn’t pay for itself. The argument you get from some quarters is that university should be free for students, directly paid for by taxes. Like schools then, eh? Well, it’s certainly reasonable to state that a child should be schooled. Children aren’t generally mature enough to choose otherwise, and are too young to get a fulltime job. But at 18 or 19 people are old enough to choose. Many don’t want to go to university. It’s just as unfair to tax people who don’t want or need to go to university specifically in order to subsidise those who do, as it is to charge exorbitant amounts in fees. Graduate taxes are also unfair: you don’t get taxed for having A-Levels (which could
get you a better job than GCSEs), so it would be wrong to directly tax a degree, which does the same. Although, taking the average rate of the proposed 20-year tax, you’d probably pay less for your degree than after the fee increases, even if your wage was £50,000 a year. So, fees then. Is it fair to charge the proposed maximum amount, £12,000? I say no. Oxbridge colleges would probably charge the most: Oxbridge prestige is worth more money in terms of some jobs, but £12k a year? Probably not. And academics aren’t all infallible, you know; some universities will get greedy. If universities made it academically harder to get in, so they could get the true cream of the crop, I’d approve. But it’s a question of offering the same deal to students, yet charging double the
price. Proposals to charge more for popular courses are wrong, as many popular courses (i.e. humanities) don’t automatically get you a well-paid job, so you won’t get your money’s worth. But if you charge greater fees based on presumed future earnings, then there are more problems. What if your would-be doctor decides to go and work as a gas man? They’ve pointlessly paid even further over the odds. I’m rambling, of course. But things involving money (and politics) necessitate a fair bit of rambling, because the world in which we live in is, after all, ever so complicated. Whatever happens, people will get pissed off and fewer people will be pleased. As for me? Well, if fees at quality redbricks like Cardiff went up to about £10k a year (£13-£14k with living costs), would
I pay forty grand to get my Lit degree? Almost certainly not. But that's me. My arguments are based on a university equals good job basis. Other aspects of university life are obviously important. The social life, of course. And it may be uncool to say it, but actually learning things in a reasoned, academic way can be rather enjoyable. If university is a lifestyle choice, it’s probably the best you could ever make. But let’s face it, most people want a decent job to follow their degree. If your degree is a gamble for potential cash profits (higher wages), is it worth risking forty grand to find out if you’ll win that bet? Your choice.
A gamble on the future: is the casino a safer bet than the lecture theatre?
Politics12
Obama faces his biggest test yet Politics looks ahead to tomorrow's midterm elections - the most accurate indication of what the public think about the policies of the Oval Office.
Richard Herlihy Politics Writer Tomorrow, millions of Americans will surge into polling booths for elections at nearly every level of government. The midterms, two years after the appointment of America's first black president, see every seat in the 435-member House of Congress up for grabs as well as over a third of the Senate. With the Republican Party polling well in many key battlegrounds leading up to November 2, the elections could spell trouble for the ruling Democrats and signal a halt to – perhaps even a reversal of – President Obama’s reforms. The midterms come during a tide of anger from opponents and apathy from supporters over high unemployment and the country’s growing debt; Congress has been deeply unpopular of late, with its approval ratings hovering between 10% and 20% over the past year. Democrats currently have complete control of the federal government having held both houses since the 2006 midterm elections, as well as the presidency since Mr Obama's
inauguration in 2009. The Republican Party needs ten new seats to wrest control of the Senate, and though they are set to make huge gains, many races are too close to call. Polls last week showed overall support for Republican candidates at 50% versus 42% for Democrats, but with only 37 Senate seats being contested, it seems the Democrats may just hold on to control of the upper house. Congress, however, almost certainly seems set for a much larger swing in seats which might usher in a Republican majority. One of the closest races, and the state with the country’s highest unemployment, is Nevada, where Senate Majority leader Harry Reid is facing a challenge from Tea Party candidate Sharron Angle. Though a Democrat, Mr Reid leans to the right on some issues and attempted to distance himself from President Obama early in his re-election campaign. Despite holding his seat since 1987, he has been dead-even in polls with Mrs Angle for weeks. If the Democrats lose here, in a state they carried in the last round of elections, it may herald wider Republican success in both houses. Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton
saw huge losses for their parties in midterm elections during their first terms in 1982 and 1994, yet both went on to win re-election as presidents by large margins. The period following those elections also eventually saw the economy and federal deficit improve significantly. Should the Republicans take over Congress, it could force a change in Mr Obama’s agenda for the final two years of his term. In order to foster cross-party support he might put emphasis on cutting some spending and reducing taxes further, but two policy promises; fighting climate change and investing in renewable energy – could prove impossible to pass further legislation for. Democrats and Republicans seem to agree on the necessity of eventually cutting the deficit and stimulating growth, but both strongly disagree on how to go about it. Many analysts have talked about the enthusiasm gap between all the parties. Since last year, Tea Party supporters have been campaigning hard against many of the President’s policies, most notably over healthcare and bank and auto-company bailouts. Republicans are set
to vote in larger numbers, while voters on the left have been less vocal in their support for Democrats. Many of them have been underwhelmed with Barack Obama’s presidency despite the sheer optimism and promise that surrounded his inauguration. The past two weeks have seen a late surge in support, however, with President Obama entering the fray and endorsing many candidates in battleground districts. Political attack adverts have been a highly charged aspect of the midterms where spending by candidates, parties and interest groups on campaigns has topped $3.6 billion (£2.3 billion). One Democratic Senate candidate from Florida, Alan Grayson, disingenuously reedited footage of his opponent, representing him as a religious fundamentalist called ‘Taliban Dan’, and making it appear as though the Republican had said that women “should submit to me; that’s in the Bible”. An advert in Nevada funded by a conservative pressure group, urged the Hispanic community to boycott elections in order to register their disappointment with Democrats over immigration reform. Much of the tide facing the Dem-
ocrats has been stirred by the Tea Party movement, the right-wing, though ostensibly non-partisan, group campaigning to restore what they call the values of America's founding fathers – small government, patriotism, and the constitution. Though many Republican candidates have been endorsed by the Tea Party, in several races the group has put up candidates who have ousted traditional conservatives in Republican primaries; some of the more extreme Tea Party candidates seem to have put off moderate voters, such as Christine O’Donnell who is trailing heavily in the Delaware Senate election. In a few races, Tea Party candidates are running as independents, and there is some optimism among Democrats that this could split the conservative vote. Tomorrow also sees a host of other items on American ballot papers, including governorships, state legislatures, and referendums. California will vote on Proposition 19, a measure that would legalise cannabis in the state. Polls indicate both Yes and No camps are in a dead heat.
Politics13
gair rhydd • Monday November 01 2010 • politics@gairrhydd.com
The Sexualisation of Politics: fairer treatment for the fairer sex
Women may have equal rights on the political field, but they’re still far from getting equal treatment in the news coverage they attract. Bethan Cable investigates what it’s doing to our political coverage.
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hat does your wife’s dress have to do with how well you can run the country? ‘Sod all’ would be the most obvious answer, yet during the last General Election several tabloids ran daily articles comparing the latest fashion choices of Sarah Brown, Samantha Cameron and Miriam Gonález Durántez (...er, that’s Nick Clegg’s wife). It’s the same in America, where Michelle Obama somehow managed to make more headlines by wearing a sleeveless dress – for an official photoshoot – than her husband did with that week’s policies, and where there are several blogs entirely devoted to following her every change of clothing with a paparazzo-like intensity. Sarah Palin – surely not a politician who lacks reasons to be criticised – gets almost as much newsprint devoted to her children and her latest fashion choices as for her incompetence and her attempt to use her position as Governor to fire the man who divorced her sister. Back in Britain, the derision Sarah Brown attracted when compared sartorially with a visiting Carla Bruni made as much – if not more – newsprint as their husbands’ summit did. More recently, the ‘SamCam’ nickname given to Samantha Cameron conjures up not the idea of the wife of the most powerful man in Britain but thoughts of popstar Susan
‘SuBo’ Boyle and the ‘Brangelina’ moniker given to Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But why is all this important? Many people would argue that it’s just fun or another way for the tabloids to fill space, but like it or not they reach far more of the UK’s population than the broadsheets do and they play an undeniable role in setting the political agenda. So what do the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror et al do with their power? They turn serious political decisions into Britain’s Next Top Model, keeping their readers ignorant of real news in favour of making sure we all know that Samantha Cameron favours Ralph Lauren dresses. Traditionally, British politics has been a sphere in which the private lives of participants are off-limits unless their activities interfere with their duties, but for the women this often doesn’t apply: their clothes, their relationships and how pretty they may be is considered fair game for constant tabloid fodder in an increasingly smutty market. The Daily Mail – admittedly, not exactly a bastion of quality journalism – once managed to publish an entire article which was almost entirely about how short Hazel Blears is! No male politician in recent memory, except maybe John Prescott, has had to withstand the sheer sustained volume of commentary on their appearance that female MPs and political figures deal with as a matter of course.
What’s worse, there’s an undeniably nasty, mocking tone to their attitude to women, whether spouses or self-made MPs: Cherie Blair, Harriet Harman, Hazel Blears and Diane Abbott, to name but a few, have been attacked and derided for the way they look with a frequency that their male counterparts virtually never experience. And all this is nothing new: it’s pretty rare to see an article criticising Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s only female Prime Minister, which does not suggest that she looks like a man – and let’s face it, there are far more important reasons to object to her. (The Falklands War, the miners’ strikes, Section 28 and her attempt to dismantle the welfare state, anyone?) The female members of Tony Blair’s new cabinet in 1997 immediately attracted the nickname ‘Blair’s Babes’ – but were they actually any good at their jobs? Who knows – to those writing about them, they were women first and politicians a distant second. Given all this, heaven help any woman (or man, for that matter) in the political sphere who doesn’t marry (Ann Widdecombe even managed to make headlines just by not having sex), while any married woman will see her husband mocked if he takes a backseat role and see herself reduced to ‘So-andso’s wife’ if they are equal partners, as is the case for Yvette Cooper, the current Shadow Foreign Secretary and the wife of Labour leadership
candidate Ed Balls. It seems as though the only way to be a woman in British politics and be treated with something approaching civility is to look pretty and keep your mouth shut – not really an option for a woman who wants to do more than be a meek partner to a highflying husband. Faced with such a prospective onslaught of bitchiness, no matter what they do, how many women politicians are put off taking a more high-profile role, and how many make the decision not to enter politics at all? There are a lot of reasons why there are still far fewer women in politics than there are men, but I wouldn’t mind betting that this is a big one. When it comes to spouses, coverage of the women often acts as a kind of lightning rod for public opinion of their husbands: mockery of Cherie Blair’s appearance intensified as Tony lost popularity and Nick Clegg’s Spanish wife Miriam was used to insinuate that he is anti-British because she is foreign and their children have foreign names, while the fact that Ed Miliband is not married to the woman who is his partner and the mother of his children has already been used to criticise him, with the Daily Mail devoting an entire article to the subject immediately after he became leader of the Labour Party. Taking cheap pot-shots at women in politics for their looks, their style and the sex they may or may not be having – like the barrage of smutty
innuendo levelled at politicians of either gender who are either suspected or known to be gay – rather than for their real mistakes is an easy way to fill pages without having to explain complicated political manoeuvres: it’s really just another way of quietly ‘dumbing down’ the news, silencing outspoken political figures, and stifling real debate. This sort of thing is easy to write off as pure sexism from the media, but doing so doesn’t actually help to change anything. Nor is it that simple – as the papers would argue, they are simply giving their customers what they want: they’re not creating the trend, they’re just following public demand. If the Sun and the Daily Mail’s political coverage is so bad, why are their sales figures so consistently high? As far as I can see, the popularity of this sort of superficial coverage is its own simplicity: like popcorn or a Happy Meal, it’s addictive and quick and easy to consume even if it’s not really good for you. Transforming politics into a kind of soap opera makes a confusing, often boring subject more appealing and easier to understand, thus drawing more readers who are attracted to the salacious details and gossip and bored by the dull political wrangling. Is it sexism? Probably. But does it make money? Without a doubt. And while it continues to do so, there is no realistic chance of sexed-up Hollywood-style journalism ever going away.
14Politics
politics@gairrhydd.com • Monday November 1 2010 • gair rhydd
A much 'Greener' Government? Owain Mortimer Politics Writer The UK government has recently announced that it will not be backing the Severn barrage project. This decision will surely cast huge doubt on the green credentials of the government. The scheme would have seen the ten-mile long tidal energy project create an estimated 8.6GW of renewable electricity, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. This would have been the equivalent to five percent of the UK’s electricity needs and two or three power stations. Yet despite these figures, the Coalition government is thought to believe that the economic factors outweigh the environmental ones regarding the building and maintaining of this controversial project. Energy secretary Chris Huhne said there was no “strategic case” for a project that would be costly to deliver and “very challenging” to fund..He was speaking as he revealed the findings of a two-year
feasibility study that shows costs have escalated so much that the scheme now fails to stack up economically. This is in stark contrast to the signals sent out by the Conservative Party during the run up to the general election where Nick Herbert, now Minister for Police and Justice, claimed in a speech at the Conservatives ‘Lean and Green’ Conference that: “we realise that the environment cannot be an afterthought”. This is not the first time there has been concern over the Conservative Party’s green policies. Before the general election the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats criticized the Conservative leadership for its failure to address Conservative Party scepticism on climate change. Liberal Democrat energy and climate change spokesman Simon Hughes said it was "very worrying" that most of the Conservative party were sceptical about the case for man-made climate change, adding that it was therefore hard to trust the Conservative leader-
ship's environmental pledges. Ed Miliband echoed this sentiment by insisting David Cameron’s commitment to green issues was little more than “image-making”. Earlier this year it was reported that 90% of the Conservative Party did not believe in man-made climate change. Many of the Conservative Party felt that these feelings of distrust with the scientific consensus behind man made climate change were justified following the ‘Climate-gate’ scandal at the turn of last year. A survey at the time of 200 Conservative PPC’s listed Climate Change as the lowest priority and the economy as the highest priority. On February 7th 2010 Tim Montgomerie, founder and editor of the ConservativeHome website said climate change could be as divisive to the Conservative Party as the EU. “No one minded at the beginning, but people are starting to realise this could be quite expensive, so opinion is hardening.” Montgomerie also gave an insight into many
Conservative MP’s opinions on the matter. He stated that while some MPs simply did not believe the science, others felt it would harm the economy too much to focus on policies to reduce emissions. “Some think, ‘What is the point in taking all these decisions if India and China and others row ahead?’” This raises the question - does the coalition government’s decision to refuse to back the Severn Barrage project mean that they are prioritizing the budget deficit over future environmental and ecological issues? When he became the Prime Minister, David Cameron stated that he wanted his government to be the “greenest ever”. The decision to rule out the Severn Barrage would mean, due to the UK’s commitment to generating 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 in order to cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, that other low carbon energy sources would have to be developed. These would include wind, solar and nuclear. For now, the government has opted for
the nuclear direction, announcing on October 18 that they had given the green light to build eight new reactors, in a move that will see the UK push forward with the most ambitious fleet of new nuclear power stations in Europe. The main worry about these developments for the taxpayer will be the rising cost of the nuclear waste bill. These developments show a staggering turn around in the Conservative and Liberal Democrats 'views on environmental policy. It also signals another huge failure of the Liberal Democrats to exert any kind of pressure on the Conservative Party, as the party lobbied hard for the abandonment of the creation of new nuclear reactors across the country in the last general election. These are troublesome times economically, but the Coalition government’s refusal to back such a ground breaking and possibly energy saving project, coupled with the rapidity and harshness of the recent cuts, could create a detrimental backlash in the future.
A Brave New Dawn for Chile Sophie Gidley Politics Writer Scenes of jubilation were widespread, not only throughout Chile ,but across the world as news confirming the rescue of the Chilean Miners rescue was heard last week. In a 69-day ordeal that saw 33 men trapped inside the collapsed San Jose copper and gold mine, the world was on edge waiting for the moment when the first man would be raised from the depths of the mine. Trapped half a mile beneath the surface in claustrophobic and intensely hot conditions, original estimates of a release date were pitched at over four months, with other reports claiming that it would take until Christmas to free the miners. However, the Chilean resilience was to prove much greater than this, and what at first seemed an immense tragedy that shocked the globe has become, just over two months later, an act of national pride and joy. As the Chilean President, Miguel Juan Sebastian Pinera Echenique, stated it shows the world the success of “commitment, courage, faith, hope and unity.” And indeed, the ordeal shows precisely just that. Families of the trapped men remained vigilant at the site known as 'Camp Hope' waiting for news from their loved ones whilst the miners themselves kept diplomatic and calm. When the first men emerged from the mine the chime of church bells and chanting of “Chi! Le!” resounded: all testaments to their courage, pride and unfaltering faith in the rescue effort. However, the ordeal has not just
demonstrated the courage of the Chilean people but also the political and economic strengths of the nation. Since the rescue operation the Chilean President has risen in prominence on the global political front, a stark contrast to his previous low profile. His dramatic rise in popularity has seen him obtain an almost celebrity-like status, particularly on his recent visit to Europe, where he has been warmly greeted. Meetings with prominent individuals including the Queen and the Prime Minister David Cameron, (and further visits to Germany and France ahead) have all enabled
Mr Pinera to greatly enhance his profile as well as that of Chile’s. Speaking publically he announced how the unity and strength of the rescue operation mirrors the character of the Chilean people and is an example for the rest of the world to follow. Certainly, he showed dedication during the ordeal, flying straight to the scene and returning numerously throughout the two months, as well as greeting each individual miner who emerged from the mine over the 22-hour period. This highlights his influence and commitment, placing him in good stead as a political power to now be
acknowledged seriously. Furthermore, Chile has risen on the global economic frontier. It has proven to the world that this nation is becoming increasingly more developed, and is now considered one of the most influential economic powers in Latin America. International investors have been quick to consider economic opportunities with Chile, and in terms of the technicality and efficiency of the rescue operation it has become clear that Chile has a strengthening industry that will serve both itself and other competitive nations well in business relations.
Evidently, this initial catastrophic incident has become a positive ordeal for the nation and its’ people, from which they have made constructive gains. Whereas the prominence of Chile as a nation and a global actor before remained very inactive, this nation has since taken vast steps forward both politically and economic ally, two important areas that in terms of international relations have now given it a credible international reputation. From this point onward it seems that the way forward for Chile and President Pinera is only a positive one.
Politics15
gair rhydd • Monday November 01 2010 • politics@gairrhydd.com
Gaffe-happy Tea Partiers lacking broad appeal
Daniel Brockley explores the recent rise of the Tea Party movement in American politics and considers their chances of success in tomorrow’s midterm elections
T
he Tea Party movement is currently the dominant talking point in American politics. Although the name of this right wing faction of the Republican Party appears to resemble a middle class tea and biscuit society, it is doing more to shake up the traditional electoral battlegrounds of both the Democratic and Republic party than anything in recent years. Fundamentally, they represent an increasing anti-establishment feeling that many Americans resonate with. Nevertheless, the extent to which the Tea Party can transform their success in the Republican primaries into success in the upcoming Mid-Terms remains to be seen. The Tea Party movement is whole-heartedly anti-Obama. At the Tea Party’s crudest level, rallies have shown posters and placards that have depicted pictures of Obama as a raving socialist in the character of the Joker from ‘The Dark Knight’. This seemingly uncanny comparison of Obama as the Socialist Joker is of course laughable. However ill-founded, the comparison is of course meant to be crass; it is meant to alarm: and it is meant to attract attention. It reflects the Tea Party Movements illogical fear of anything socialist (which in Tea Party terms may as well translate to Communist) and shows their particular penchant for fear-mongering. This fear-mongering is personified in the ranting, or perhaps more accurately ramblings, of right wing commentator Glenn Beck. Even more annoying than Piers Morgan, he is a caricature of himself. Moreover, he represents what indeed many have become to associate with the Tea Party Movement: angry people, really angry people who make the angry people who read and write in the Daily Mail look like Blue Peter presenters. But maybe this generalised view of the Tea Party movement is just that. Is it really fair to label those affiliated with the Tea Party movement as right wing lunatics? Looking at the demographics of the movement, it appears to tick all the boxes expected. Tea party voters are, more often than not, white and over forty-five. So far so good, but just as we can nearly section them off into the angry, white, middle aged and uneducated section we come across a problem. The mass following that has emerged for the Tea Party movement since 2009 are not all angry or uneducated. In fact, many would see themselves as passionate and proud. Perhaps it is too easy to go on a rant about the eccentric and undoubtedly ill founded right wing views that are embedded in the Tea Party Movement. Chris-
tine O’Donnell, the Republican candidate for Senator in Delaware, has strong anti-abortion views and has called for the intelligent design theory to be taught in schools. This smacks of ignorance. Yet calling her a ‘nut job’, just as Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, did not explain her appeal. Christine O’Donnell’s victory against the GOP establishment candidate Chris Woods in Delaware back in September was a truly stunning victory and one that sent shockwaves through the Republican Party. It should not be understated. Her appeal is clear. She epitomises the anti-establishment feeling that is so appealing to many voters. She has successfully portrayed herself as an “average” citizen and in doing this she can be seen to legitimately attack Washington politics. The “us versus them” mentality is one that rings entirely true to many who feel completely disillusioned with the political elite, but is it a strong enough vision to gain success in the Mid-Terms? The most interesting facet of the rise of the Tea Party Movement is the fact that it is damaging the chances of a cohesive Republican response to the Democrat administration. The American Mid-Terms are looming and predictions note that Democrats may lose control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, the rise of the Tea Party Movement may just be helping the Democrat Party. The logic is simple. In the Republican candidacy primaries where the Tea Party has successfully managed to get a candidate represented, they have moved away from the centre ground. The centre ground is still a fertile plain for candidates to win votes, and it is the Republicans fear that a Tea Party-backed candidate will alienate more centrist voters and push them toward their Democratic counterpart. Despite the seismic shock of the election of O’Donnell as Republican candidate, she is currently comfortably trailing Chris Coons in the polls. More alarmingly for the Republican Party, this is appearing to be a trend in other areas in which Tea Party candidates are running. Her latest public error in a debate with Chris Coons has shown her basic lack of knowledge of the Constitution. Quite simply, she was not aware of the First Amendment. The Amendment specifically says the state should make no law establishing a religion. Asking, ‘Where in the constitution is the separation of the church and state?’, Miss O’Donnell has shown herself to be inept and this will continue to isolate her from more moderate voters. Tea Party candidates are prone to gaffes. Sharron Angle, another Tea Party backed candidate run-
ning against Harry Reid in Nevada, has made comments stating that autism is not a real medical condition. Not content with this, she last week told a group of Hispanic students in Nevada that ‘some of them looked Asian’. Glenn Beck has also called Barack Obama a racist. Clearly, no matter how appealing the likes of Sarah Palin and Christine O’Donnell are to ‘soccer mums’ and ‘hockey dads’, they will always
be exposed as lacking the political expertise needed to be a success in government. Although these failings are not so crucial in the primary Republican elections, there can be no doubt that such gaffes are hugely off-putting to moderate voters. Although the Tea Party movement is redefining the American right, ultimately, it seems probable that the Tea Party will slowly fade back into the broad spectrum of the
American right.
Did You Know?
The origins of the name stems from the 1773 Boston Tea Party. This was a key event in the American Revolution in which colonists destroyed British tea as a means of direct action against paying taxes.
16Politics
politics@gairrhydd.com • Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd
German leader takes tough stance Luke Slade Politics Writer Multiculturalism is dead. German Chancellor Angela Merkel professed that attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have “failed utterly”. Quite a shift from her usually liberal in beliefs. Her speech was aimed to recover her own and her conservative party's abating popularity, and salvage the initiative in an increasingly hostile debate over immigration; something that has equally struck the UK in recent years. “At the start of the 60s we invited the guest-workers to Germany. We kidded ourselves for a while that they wouldn’t stay, that one day they’d go home. That isn’t what happened.” Chancellor Merkel gave her speech to a conference of the youth sect of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Angela Merkel, who habitually avoids xenophobic opinion, rather bluntly said that ‘Multikulti’, the notion of people from different cultural backgrounds living “happily side-byside … has failed, failed utterly”. The design of her speech was to implore Germany’s 16 million immigrants that there is a real need to integrate into society and “learn to speak German”. She sees the fact that most of the immigrants are disconnected as a serious economic disadvantage. She says that most traders are going elsewhere to trade, which could cause the substance and value of the German
economy to plummet. Her newly adapted views mark a change from her slightly liberal stance which has in the past singled her out from most of her conservative-thinking party. However, during her speech she did push that she was not against immigration, and that she is not ignorant to the fact that Islam is a part of Germany’s modern-day culture. Although she does not present herself as extreme as Horst Seehofer, the Bavarian state premier, or Thilo Sarrazin, former Bundesbank board member, whether her views are diluted (if they can be called diluted) for the public, is yet to be seen. Horst Sheehofer’s harsh view is that there should be an end to immigration from Turkey and Arab countries and was quoted saying “‘Multikulti’ is dead”. He also said that both right-wing parties were committed to a “dominant German culture”, claiming that if Germany did not organise their immigration policies it was in danger of becoming “the world’s welfare office”. Ian Traynor for the Guardian stated with a similar stance that “European countries need immigrants – but they have yet to come up with a satisfactory way of organising immigration”. Thilo Sarrazin, known for his book Deutschland Schafft Sich Ab, which means Germany Does Away With Itself, comments that the failure of immigrants to integrate was contributing to Germany’s decline. Despite polls suggesting
that almost half of the population (including Social Democratic Party members) agree with his views and even 18% would vote for his party if he started one, he was dismissed from his post. He said “Integration is the achievement of one who has integrated … I don't have to recognise anyone who lives from the state, rejects that state, refuses to ensure his children receive an education and continues to produce little headscarfed girls.” However harsh these views may seem it is clear that many people are feeling the same way. Perhaps what at first seems a harsh concept is actually having the ability to stand up for the German culture and impose for the sake of not letting immigration control the country. Angela Merkel’s "left-wing" conservatism has led to an open discussion about an early replacement. The right-wing Conservatives favoured candidate Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the defence minister. zu Guttenberg and his glamorous wife Stephanie were pictured on the front cover of Der Spiegel magazine as "The fabulous zu Guttenbergs". In an article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper last week, several CDU politicians were quoted as saying they considered zu Guttenberg, who is rated Germany's most popular politician, as Merkel's most obvious replacement. "If Merkel loses Baden-Württemberg [one of the Conservatives monopoly states], then she will be out of the picture".
However there is a labour shortage in Germany. They are short of around 400,000 skilled workers and that fissure is costing Germany 25 billion euros a year. Naturally capitalists have suggested that the only way to fill this gap is to allow equivalently skilled workers in from other countries. However their proposals are lengthy and bureaucratic. The Chancellor asserted in her speech that she could not consider these proposals “until we have done all we can to help our own people to become qualified and give them a chance”. Opposing this view, Ursula von der Leyen, a member of the CDU, said “For several years more people have been leaving our country than entering it. Wherever it is possible, we must lower the entry hurdles for those who bring the country forward”. Philip Oltermann for the Guardian commented “I am German, and I have a sister whose three boys are half-Peruvian. My brother's children are part-Japanese. My partner is English. Were we all utter failures?” It seems that Angela Merkel has generalised too much in this instance which is why her views, and the views of her party appear punitive. Cardiff University student Steve Metherell said “they [the immigrants] need to make more of an effort to integrate themselves into the culture of a country they have adopted as their own”. It could and has been suggested that since the tainting of the Nazi rule that Germany have lacked a
national identity. Therefore to allow the void of miscomprehension that surrounds the German identity as a country they adopted an overtly liberal stance on immigrants who wish to stay in Germany. However, it appears that now they are unable to deal with the wave of Gastarbeiter (migrant workers) that were never organised. And that only now are they gaining a tangible grasp of their German identity. Nevertheless it seems to me that what is being attacked here is not multiculturalism at all, but Muslim integration. It appears that immigrants have adopted the view that Germany is just land to them as they shut themselves off in a world of their own television/news and each other, and have no interest in the culture they have adopted. However, it is worth noting that the governing party of Germany is the Christian Democratic Union. Their view emphasizes the “Christian understanding of humans and their responsibility toward God.” Surely this integration of the state and religion serves as something to consider when looking at why the immigrants feel cut off from their German neighbours as it were. Perhaps a separation of religious ideology and politics is needed to create a perfectly integrated, multicultural society that works and works utterly.
gair rhydd • Monday November 01 2010 • features@gairrhydd.com
Reality TV: It's over to you
Features
17
As millions of us tune in to The X Factor, The Apprentice and Strictly Come Dancing, Faith Westlake questions the quality of British reality television.
I
t would be fair to say that the past decade has been something of a golden era for reality television. Our TV screens have been dominated by shows like Big Brother, X-Factor, Dancing on Ice, Strictly Come Dancing and The Apprentice just to name a few. But what does reality TV say about the state of British entertainment:does it really reflect the wants of a nation, or is it culturally damaging? It’s impossible to deny that some good has come out of reality television. It is known how notoriously difficult it is to break into the entertainment industry with thousands failing to reach their ambitions through lack of opportunity. Look back at Britain’s Got Talent 2009, when Susan Boyle wowed the world with her voice. Would she have been given the opportunity to show her talent without such a show? You only need to look at the popularity of such films as Slumdog Millionaire and The Shawshank Redemption to see that the public love an underdog story. Nobody ever wants the arrogant, obnoxious characters to win these sorts of shows. It’s the normal, everyday, shy and sweet characters who win our hearts. People we can relate to and follow throughout the show’s arc. People we connect to as if we’re living vicariously through them. If they win, we win. With viewing figures of X-Factor season six boasting a peak of 19.7 million it would seem that reality television is what the public wants. But what about the millions of people who oppose these reality shows? Last year a Facebook campaign stormed the internet urging people to buy the Rage Against the Machine single ‘Killing In The Name Of ’ to stop X-Factor winner, Joe McElderry, becoming Christmas Number One. Despite the millions of X-Factor fans, Joe McElderry’s ‘The Climb’ was beaten to the number one spot in a campaign that Simon Cowell branded “stupid” and “cynical”. This is clearly the voice of the people, rejecting the endless cycle of ge-
neric pop songs and showing the music executives what they really want. Yes we love an underdog, but for every Susan Boyle there’s a Nikki Grahame and for every Leona Lewis there’s a Jedward. Despite judging panels there is no such thing as quality control and our screens (and entertainment industry) are flooded with sub-par acts. One could obviously say that 19 million people can’t be wrong. And with so many people ringing in to vote, shows like X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing pass the deciding vote over to the public. So if we don’t like it, then we should stop watching/voting for it! But this raises another issue - do the shows really care what we think or do they just use phone votes to draw in more capital? With phone-in scandals, where your vote may make no difference to the result, there seems to be a lack of trust growing between viewer and show as the concept of what ‘reality’ really is becomes shady. Do the ‘tragic’ lives of some contestants, cleverly depicted over a background of piano music, really represent the average Joe? And is anyone really surprised when a scene from the latest reality TV endeavour is proved to have been staged or when contestants have been axed for ambiguous reasons? A result of garnering such huge audiences means reality TV controversy is never far from the media but this can be viewed as a good thing. Although who’s been voted off on this week’s episode may not be seen as riveting journalism, the coverage that reality TV receives has highlighted problems in our society that some people may not ever have been aware of. When 67 year old Arlene Phillips was axed from Strictly Come Dancing the media supported her and accused the BBC of ageism. Arlene Phillips, choreographer, theatre director, talent scout and former dancer, was replaced by Alesha Dixon who… won the show once? The BBC may have wanted to refresh the format to draw younger viewers from its rating rival the X-
Factor but with national treasure Bruce Forsyth (aged 82) still presenting it would seem there is room for older men in entertainment but not so much for women. Also, look at the heightened awareness of cervical cancer since the tragic death of Jade Goody. These stories, although sad, can have positive effects and inadvertently educate the public and raise awareness of social issues. The BBC Trust operating agreement states that the BBC “should deliver its remit through high quality programmes,” but it is arguable whether ex-Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe attempting a salsa on Strictly Come Dancing is quality entertainment. Television is extremely subjective with reality television being the ultimate Marmite media. When it comes to shows like Big Brother there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground: you love it or you hate it. Love or hate them, you can’t deny that reality TV is an entertainment cash cow. It’s arguable that when you can draw in masses of viewers from reality TV shows and their spin-offs there really isn’t a need for innovation in the industry. If studios can profit from making much of the same then creativity becomes a secondary aim. It’s seems difficult to imagine television without reality shows when they are so ingrained into the culture we grew up with. Despite Big Brother being axed after 10 years on our screens it seems that the reality TV trend isn’t ready to die just yet. With Simon Cowell signing a three year deal to continue the X-Factor and trying to syndicate the show abroad, an obvious demand still remains. In fact this week’s TV schedule includes the X-Factor, Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice, Come Dine With Me, Masterchef: The Professionals, World’s Strictest Parents and the recent addition The Only Way Is Essex. Clearly the genre isn’t losing any momentum but by the end of this new decade could it be the ‘golden age’ for a new TV craze?
Top: Susan Boyle wowed the nation on Britain's Got Talent Above: The iconic symbol Below: Alesha Dixon on Strictly Come Dancing
18Features
gair rhydd • Monday November 01 2010 • features@gairrhydd.com
Your Space. We want to hear your stories: anything goes. Just drop us a line on features@gairrhydd.com. This week Andrew Arthur describes his atttept to pass as a 17-year-old at Green Man Festival.
F
or weeks I had been eagerly anticipating the Green Man festival. So strong was my desire to attend Britain’s fastest growing boutique music festival (and Wales’ best in general) that I left myself at the mercy of the evil touts, as tickets had sold out before I had the chance to purchase them at gate price. Fortunately, I managed to come across a cheapish single ticket via a Dutch ticket-finding website, whose name I will spell backwards, ‘dlrow pohstekcit’ to avoid any libels (after all, this isn’t Watchdog with Anne Robinson or that Scottish burk that nobody really likes). The chance to see The Flaming Lips, Billy Bragg and Beirut was back on, not to mention some top-notch literary and poetry recitals from the likes of Patrick Jones and the ‘Bard of Salford’ himself, John Cooper Clarke! Summer was back in my heart. However, on the happy day that my ticket arrived things took a turn for the worse. I tore open the envelope and my excitement drained completely from me, replaced with despair and abject horror. As I scanned over the fine print in
Above: the line-up at this year's Green Man Festival was too good to miss the bottom left hand corner I realised that I had unwittingly purchased a ‘teen ticket’. Hence why the price wasn’t so extortionate and it had been so easy to get hold of ! In a frenzied state I logged on to the festival’s website and read that ‘teen tickets’ were only for people aged 13-17 and those in possession of this ticket must be accompanied by a 21year-old. With only four days to go before I was due to depart for Brecon, the chances of selling it on and finding an affordable ‘adult’ alternative were next to zero. Bugger. I was travelling to Green Man in the company of a 21-year-old who generously agreed to play my youthful uncle. Now it was down to me to do a Zach Efron – become 17 again. After a depressing trawl through my late teen attire I had the disguise ready:One pair of exceedingly baggy jeans with the crotch hovering adjacent to my kneecaps One studded belt. One brown Quicksilver Jumper (with logo on full display). One black hoody with hood pulled up over my head. One Hawk Skateboards branded
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As I scanned over the fine print in the bottom left hand corner I realised I had purchased a 'teen ticket'
peaked hat. Rounding off the look was a recently acquired stud earring. I had my minder, the outfit and was now ready to take on the final stumbling block – the cold, discerning eyes of the ticket staff. Standing in the queue to get my wristband, the pressure intensified. Thump Thump. Thump Thump. It was death or glory now. If I pulled the wool over their eyes then I was free to enjoy a weekend of brilliant music, literature and comedy in a friendly atmosphere at a happnin’ festival. But if my disguise failed and they uncovered my true identity I would be stranded in the Brecon Beacons, in monsoon conditions, on my own in naff skate clothes that weren’t cool when I bought them five years ago, whilst my friends had a great time. ‘I could stage my own private festival but it wouldn’t be as good’... Thump Thump. Thump Thump. I tried to calm my nerves by doing PJ and Duncan impersonations with my friends but it was no good, we were edging ever closer to the front of the line now. Thump Thump. Thump Thump. My heart was in my mouth, we were
next to exchange our tickets for wristbands. I was starting to tremble a little, my knees were knocking and my jeans were in danger of falling down. Thump Thump. Thump Thump. I told my friends Rob and Mike to stop thumping me as were attracting some funny glances and we stepped up to the desk. “Ticket please...” My wiszned 20 -year-old hand gave him the ticket. “So he’s with you” he asked Mike. He squinted at me unconvinced. “Have you got any I.D. that proves you’re a teenager?” Thump Thump. My heart really was pounding now. “No”, I replied, as high pitched as was believable. Silence. “OK, no worries then” and he strapped on my red teen wristband. The main path through the campsite resembled the plains of Paschendale, the thick bog nearly prised off my wellies with every step but I didn’t care. It didn’t even bother me that I couldn’t get served alcohol (I did anyway). I was here! After a few sneaky Strongbows at the tent, having now regressed to 14, I was ready to enjoy the weekend...
Science 20
Beyond the tipping point
Daniel Thompson Science Correspondent On the January 22, a report from the World Bank heralded a dangerous new era in the 55 million-year history of the Amazon rainforest. The study, entitled ‘Assessment of the Risk of Amazon Dieback’, concluded that beyond the ‘tipping point’ of 20% deforestation, the rainforest, unable to provide itself with the water it required, would begin to shrink of its own accord in a self-accelerating feedback loop of fire and drought. Legal deforestation of the Amazon rainforest already stands at 18-19%, and illegal logging pushes that figure to yet more perilous levels. As human activity drives our environment past yet another ‘tipping point’, the need for popular debate and action is becoming increasingly critical. How did we end up in this position? What are the consequences? And what can we do about it? Widespread human destruction of the Amazon began in the 1960s when Brazil, pressured by its interna-
tional debt obligations, lifted access restrictions on the forest during a time of record global beef prices. The subsequent colonists of the rainforest - mostly cattle ranchers - quickly established an agricultural norm of extensive deforestation and environmental degradation. By 1970 an area of forest the size of Wales was being removed every year. The primary motivators of Amazon deforestation today are no different to those of the 1960s. Soy bean and beef producers, as well as the logging industry, continue to clear the forest at the behest of the unchecked market forces which demand their valuable exports. Government-approved businesses are appropriating and destroying indigenously-owned Amazonian land in the name of economic prosperity, just as they did fifty years ago. Despite extensive campaigning on behalf of the Amazon, the rate of deforestation in 2008 was still over half of 1970 levels -11,968 km2 per annum. Three years earlier, before the global economic downturn, it was 18,846 km2 per annum.
Above: The Amazon is under risk
Tropical rainforest deforestation is not only confined to South America. Recent activist attention has been focused on the rainforests of Borneo, now almost entirely destroyed for the sake of palm oil production, while the forests of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are expected to be entirely logged out within the next one to two decades. Almost 90% of West Africa’s rainforests have been destroyed. The consequences of these losses are enormous. Rainforest clearance is one of the greatest threats to the Earth’s biodiversity, with scientists estimating that over 50,000 unknown species a year are lost as a result. As these biological resources disappear, so does our ability to discover and synthesise the planet’s natural stockpile of medicine. Deforestation is also a major contributor to climate change. Tropical rainforests such as the Amazon act as vast repositories of carbon, and their destruction currently accounts for as much as 20% of global carbon emissions. Climate change will begin to have a greater effect during this
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One of the greatest threats to the Earth's biodiversity.
century, and the rises in temperature may cause our weakened rainforest biomes to contribute to a situation of ‘runaway climate change’ as forest fires rapidly release their remaining carbon. Droughts are predicted; rainforests provide 20% of the planet’s rapidly dwindling fresh water supply. The loss of tropical rainforests has a devastating effect on national economies; particularly on the world’s poorest people, who are predicted to have their living standards halved by 2050 through the degradation of their natural resources. By utilising the forests in a sustainable manner, experts theorise that local populations could generate eight times as much income per acre than if they were to clear the land for timber, and forty times as much per acre as they would if they were to graze cattle on it. It is perhaps a sign of our indifference to such a philosophy that the people best suited to this sustainable method of using the rainforest- the indigenous people who have inhabited it for thousands of years- are regularly repressed, discriminated against and banished from their homes by invasive economic activity. Despite decades of intense campaigning for endangered rainforests, deforestation continues apace in order to feed our globalised economic system with the goods it requires. Is there a solution? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to the problem of deforestation, though many of our government-backed NGOs might have us believe otherwise. We cannot save the rainforest by buying Rainforest Alliance-certified toilet paper. An area four times the size of the UK will not regrow itself because we have collectively decided to buy organic coffee. The problem of deforestation is a problem of markets and economic inequality. Local inhabitants of rainforests, largely impoverished, lack the financial power to defend their natural resources from an increasingly aggressive global capital. The financial speculator and the CEO care little for the environment of some debt-enthralled nation. For as long as we let them, they will bribe governments, buy up land, evict indigenous peoples, privatise environmental assets and ultimately decide the fate of our planet. Until the foundation of our society is no longer composed of a short-sighted, selfish commercialismwhere a quick profit for some today is worth more than a habitable planet for everyone tomorrow- then we shall continue along the downward spiral of environmental degradation. Whether humankind has the courage and foresight to radicalise its interactions with the planet- and ultimately its collective politics- remains to be seen. But the answer must be quick. Other ‘tipping points’ lie soon ahead.
Taf-od
21
Taf-Od yn holi UMCC Cynan Llwyd Taf-Od
Sut aethpwyd ati i ffurfio UMCC?
Bellach mae Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd wedi'i ffurfio. Dyma Taf-Od yn holi Nia Brodrick... Beth yn union yw Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd? Undeb? Cymdeithas? Association? Mae UMCC yn gymdeithas, ond nid yr un fath â'r Gymdeithas Gymraeg – society yw'r GymGym, association yw UMCC. Beth yw'r gwahaniaeth felly? Mae'r cymdeithasau (societies) yn gyffredinol yn bodoli er mwyn i bobol sydd â'r un diddordebau gwrdd ag ymwneud a'i gilydd ar lefel cymdeithasol. Mae'rassociations ar y llaw arall yn bodoli er mwyn cynrychioli corff o bobol gyda rhinwedd gyffredin. Nod yr associations yw diogelu a sicrhau hawliau’r bobl yma ar lefel wahanol, i sicrhau nad ydynt yn derbyn gwahaniaethu oherwydd eu bod yn lleiafrif.
Ar ôl mynychu taith y Coleg Ffederal i Gaerdydd penderfynodd criw o fyfyrwyr nad oes digon o Gymraeg na phwyslais ar y Gymraeg ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Trefnwyd cyfarfod brys i’r diwrnod canlynol ac yna penderfynwyd ceisio ffurfio UMCC yn dilyn patrwm UMCA a UMCB (Undebau Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth a Bangor) a sefydlwyd y pwyllgor sefydlu. Yn dilyn cyfarfodydd lu gydag Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd daeth UMCC ynassociation mis Medi eleni. Pam ffurfio UMCC? Mae'r Gymdeithas Gymraeg yn bodoli'n barod... Fel un sydd wedi mwynhau gweithgareddau’r GymGym ers dechrau yma yng Nghaerdydd rwy’n deall sut y gellid gofyn hyn. Yn wahanol i’r GymGym, bydd UMCC yn gallu delio â phroblemau sy’n ymwneud â materion Cymraeg p’un ai yn faterion academaidd, am
lety, cyngor a llawer mwy. Ein swydd ni fydd sicrhau eich bod chi’n cael eich trin yn gyfartal gan y Brifysgol wrth ddefnyddio eich Cymraeg. Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw hyn yn digwydd. Wrth gwrs, byddwn yn gweithio yn agos gyda’r GymGym felly nid oes rhaid dewis rhwng y ddau. Sut mae UMCC wedi'i strwythuro? Oes yna bwyllgor, llywydd, cadeirydd? Bydd Llywydd yn cael ei ethol mis Hydref mewn elecsiwn traws gampws, sy’n golygu bydd cyfle gyda phob myfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd bleidleisio. Yna, bydd y Llywydd newydd yn cynnal cyfarfod i holl aelodau UMCC er mwyn penodi Is-Lywydd, Trysorydd, Ysgrifennydd. Bydd hefyd sedd i Lywydd presennol y GymGym ar y pwyllgor. Bydd y pwyllgor yma yn cael eu hail ethol yn flynyddol. Ai myfyrwyr Cymraeg eu hiaith sy'n cael croeso yn UMCC? Mae UMCC yn croesawi unrhyw fyfyriwr sy’n siarad Cymraeg, yn dysgu Cymraeg neu â diddordeb
mewn materion Cymraeg.
yn ystod tymor yr Hydref ?
Bellach rydych yn gallu ymaelodi ag UMCC, sut mae mynd ati i wneud hynny?
Yn ystod tymor yr Hydref bydd Llywydd UMCC yn cael eu benodi / ei phenodi ac yn dilyn hyn bydd cyfarfod cyntaf UMCC er mwyn trafod y camau nesaf ac ethol aelodau eraill y pwyllgor.
Roedd cyfle i fyfyrwyr ymaelodi yn Ffair y Glas yr wythnos ddiwethaf, ond gellir ymaelodi ar y we bellach. Mae ymaelodaeth yn rhad ac am ddim, a gellir ei wneud yn hawdd ar wefan Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd sef www.cardiffstudents.com <http://www.cardiffstudents.com> . Mae ymaelodi yn hanfodol er mwyn sicrhau eich bod yn cael gwybodaeth ac e-byst UMCC, a hefyd fod yr Undeb yn gweld cymaint o gefnogaeth sydd gan UMCC. Pa fuddiannau fydd i'r myfyrwyr sy'n ymuno ag UMCC? Bydd aelodau UMCC yn cael eu cynnwys wrth i UMCC geisio adfer sefyllfa’r Gymraeg ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Dyma gyfle i gyd weithio gyda chyd-fyfyrwyr a newid sefyllfa druenus.
Sut y gall myfyrwyr helpu UMCC? Y peth cyntaf i wneud yw ymuno â UMCC ar wefan yr Undeb. Yn drydydd, anfonwch eich problemau / syniadau i ni. Mae pob enghraifft o wahaniaethu yn erbyn y Gymraeg a phob problem yn helpu ac yn cryfhau ein ymgyrch. Mae pob syniad am sut i fynd ati i wella’r sefyllfa yn cael eu werthfawrogi’n fawr, rhaid i ni gyd-weithio er mwyn goresgyn y broblem. Cysylltwch â ni drwy ebostio undebmyfyrwyrcymraegcaerdydd@ hotmail.co.uk neu ar ein grp Facebook, neu @UMCCaerdydd. Nia Brodrick, aelod o bwyllgor UMCC
Beth fydd UMCC yn ei wneud
Want to write? Come to our meetings on Monday at 5pm on the fourth floor of the Students' Union No experience necessary
23
Societies speak out in solidarity week
Societies
Monday Nov 1 Islamic society -Krispy kreme fair, Solus SU, 10am-5pm
Bianca London Societies Editor Cardiff University’s Amnesty International Society joined forces with various societies to take action and speak out for those repressed in Burma. Amnesty International society was relaunched last year with a few small campaign actions for Burma. Committee member, Oli Lucas, explains how they have previously campaigned for the 2000 political prisoners captured in the brutally-ruled country of Burma. Their specific campaign focus was the 1988 Generation students who were a part of an uprising in which the Burmese military government killed over 3000 people and arrested many more. “We clearly felt an affinity with these people as they, like us, were involved in peaceful student campaigning. The difference is that these people risk their lives to do it. Political prisoners in Burma experience torture, solitary confinement and get little access to healthcare or their families” he said. The society involved themselves in local protests and, although small scale, they garnered a lot of interest and thoroughly enjoyed talking to people about a country that people had little knowledge of. The society then discovered that the NUS was campaigning for Burma as part if its Global Justice campaign and viewed this as an opportunity to get far more of the union involved; Solidarity 2010 was born. A variety of events took place to support the week which was kicked off with the Debating Society’s
event on October 18 followed by the Great Big Gig for Burma at Cardiff Arts Institute that raised nearly £600 for Amnesty International and Burma Campaign UK. Throughout the week, Amnesty International Society were out in force getting volunteers from outside the union to join a worldwide photo petition. The petition involved people writing the name of a political prisoner on their palm, being photographed and then sending their photo to an Association of South East Asian Nations meeting that took place in Viet Nam last weekend. Oli explains how this was “a great example how small actions carried out by many people can have such a big impact.” Filmsoc also got involved and put on a very well attended showing of ‘Burma VJ: Reporting from a closed country’ as did the Cardiff Bell ringing Society who performed a sponsored ring at St John the Baptist’s Church. Talks ran throughout the week with guest speakers from Amnesty International as well as political figures who portrayed just how desperate the situation in Burma truly is. Amnesty International Society hope that Solidarity Week brought the dire internal situation in Burma to prominence. The society have great plans for next year's Solidarity Week whereby societies will ”choose the issue we represent this year and one society will coordinate all the events and societies that want to get involved in 2011” explains Oli. A huge thank you goes to Amnesty International, Medsin, Filmsoc, Cardiff Students Bellringing Society and Debating Society for their fundraising efforts this week.
The Catholic society: Charity pub quiz -Koko Gorillaz, 8pm
Medsin: Millennium Development Ghouls Meeting Vulcan Lounge, 8pm
Tuesday Nov 2 Skip: Voluntary Project Information Evening - Wallace lecture theatre-Main Building, 7pm
Wednesday Nov 3 Engin Soc: Karting Social -Team Sport Indoor Karting, 1pm
Thursday Nov 4 AIESEC: Career Fair -Great Hall in Student Union, 11am to 4pm
Surgery Society: Revision Lectures for Int & Final MB -New Lecture Theatre, UHW, 5.45-8pm
Debating Society: Weekly Meeting -4th Floor of the Students Union, 8pm
Friday Nov 5 Islamic Society: Charity dinner -CF10, SU. 5 entry, 6-10pm
RAG: Trip to Bridgwater Carnival Scientific diving society: Dive taster/refresher event -Outside the back of the Students Union.5-6pm- 8-9pm
Saturday Nov 6 Chaos Society: Telescopes 'n' Beer -Meet at SU, 5pm. Bring a telescope and beer.
Welsh Language Society: Rally "No to cuts - Yes to a new S4C" -Outside the Welsh Government building, 11am - 12pm
Sunday Nov 7 MSF: Pub Quiz -Northstar Pub, 7pm
Catholic Chaplaincy and CathSoc: Mass -rear of Catholic Chaplaincy (62 Park Place) followed by a meal and pub trip, 6.30pm
FoMSF: Pub Quiz -Northstar Pub, 7pm
To feature an event or article email societies @gairrhydd.com
Above: Amnesty International Society raise their palms for Burma
If you would like to join a Society, or see a full list of opportunities, visit: http://groups.cardiffstudents.com/societies/home
Puzzles 24
sudoku.
EASY
HARD
comic.
crossword. Across
Down
8. Brood (4) 9. According to custom (10) 10. Oliver Hardy's partner (6) 11. An engraved inscription (8) 12. Large (4) 13. Tall (10) 17. Short sleeps (4) 18. Public square (5) 19. Gown (4) 20. Similar (10) 22. Rodents (4) 23. A militant proponent of something (8) 27. Bad atmosphere (6) 28. Adversary (10) 29. Bell sound (4)
1. Lexicon (10) 2. Unrivaled (8) 3. A system of beliefs (10) 4. Double-reed woodwind (4) 5. Decorative case (4) 6. A tusked marine mammal (6) 7. Somersault (4) 14. San Antonio fort (5) 15. Modest (10) 16. Unseemly (10) 19. Bulwarks (8) 21. Choice (6) 24. Cobras (4) 25. A large hurried swallow (4) 26. Wood fastener (4)
by Daniel Judd
Listings 26
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
1st Nov
2nd Nov
3rd Nov
4th Nov
THE LASH, Solus, £3.50, 9.30pm The Lash promises 'all the best in chart and cheese', which doesn't really sound all that tempting, to be honest. But if you're a sporting LAD then it's most definitely the place to be.
LIVE MUSIC, The Taf, FREE, 8pm Pretty much what it says on the tin really. Live music. In the Taf. They had a pretty good line-up last week, so expect great things from this night.
FUN FACT TREE, Solus, FREE, 9pm Fun Factory is an institution among Cardiff students, and therefore you simply must check it out. Playing the very best in alternative music, and with various cheap drinks promotions, you're sure to have the best night of the week here - and I'm not even biased. It's a staple. Free entry and super cheap drinks are a perfect way to enjoy yourself while keeping an eye on the purse-strings. LATE NIGHT LIVE, Ten Feet Tall, FREE, 9pm Every week, 10 Feet Tall selects the finest in local, new and up-and-coming bands to perform in the Rock Room, with 50s and 60s garage rock in the bar. SUZANNE VEGA, St. Davids' Hall, £25, 7.30pm Who can forget the lyrical genius of Suzanne Vega's My name is Luca... nope, just me? Well, anyway, this woman is fabulous. New York singer/songwriter, Suzanne hit the charts in the mid-80s. Her cool minimal sound and bitter-sweet lyrics continues to haunt the British music scene today.
JUST DANCE, Clwb, £3, 10pm Just Dance returns every Tuesday night at Clwb Ifor Bach with one simple mission...to get you dancing all night long. A mixture of modern day pop, rock and R&B, thrown together with some cracking blasts from the past...cheap entry, cheap drinks prices and great, GREAT tunes.
COMEDY CLUB, CF10, 8pm It's Tuesday night, and what could be better than getting together with some friends and watching live comedy? Comedy Club selects the finest young talent on the comedy circuit and brings them directly to your union for a stupidly cheap ticket price. This week Cardiff is proud to welcome Joe Wilkinson and Roisin Conaty - who are charged with the duty of making us laugh until we ache. Joe is a hotly-tipped new face on the comedy circuit, whilst Roisin has been described as "excellent" and "divine". There's nothing better to do on a Tuesday night, so head on down to Comedy Club for cheap drinks and hilarity.
LISTEN UP, Clwb, £3, 9pm Listen Up has become an institution within an institution. Everybody loves Clwb. Everybody loves Listen Up. Playing a mix of motown, funk, indie and pop among three floors of cheap bars and trendy kids, this is the place to be every Wednesday. BOGOF Orange Wednesdays There's so much good stuff on at the moment including the amazing The Social Network and Mr. Nice. Have a chilled out night. JAZZ AT DEMPSEYS, Dempseys, £5, 9pm Music ranges from piano or guitar trio, saxophone or trumpet quartet, quartet with vocals to big band. Hear jazz standards made famous by the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, as well as original tunes.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
5th Nov
6th Nov
7th Nov
BOOMBOX, Solus £3, 10pm Playing an eclectic mix of electro, funk, drum andbass, hip hop, dubstep and breaks with a turntablist twist. Featuring dance classics, chart remixes and old school classics. Expect to hear Pendulum, Calvin Harris, Dr Dre, David Guetta, Major Lazor, A Skillz, High Contrast, Prodigy and much more. To be fair, it's the cheapest Friday night this side of the bridge, fulfilling all your student needs, and perfect for bringing those visiting mates too. Go ahead kids, BOOM YOUR BOX. BURNT CURTAINS, Cafe Jazz at Sandringham Hotel, £TBC, 10pm It appears that Friday nights are slowly becomming Jazz night. Burnt Curtains are a young three-piece blues band based in Cardiff. These Jazz nights are normally pretty good, so maybe it's worth a look if you haven't been to one yet and you fancy doing something different to the usual Boombox. MIKE BORGIA AND THE PROBLEMS, Buffalo Bar, £3, 7pm The information is rather lacking on this one. If you love a bit of a mystery, then perhaps this is for you?
COME PLAY, Solus, £3, 10pm A safe bet for a Saturday night. If none of the other events do it for you, head to the Union for guaranteed good music and cheap drinks. Not the most imaginative of nights out, but you'll be sure to have a good time. And who said that being able to predict the playlist down to the very last minute was a bad thing? JOURNAL OF PLASTIK PRESENTS: EVENING CHORUS, The Gate Arts Centre, £4, TBC Apparently, Evening Chorus are a Cardiff folk bluegrass four-piece. I'm not entirely sure what that means, actually. It could be referring to a special type of grass which grows in the Kentucky area, or it could be a sub-genre of American country music. Either way, it sounds bloody brilliant. If Come Play doesn't float your boat, go and check this out. CARDIFF UNIVERSITY STUDENT CHOIRS AND ORCHESTRAS SIX CONCERT, Cardiff Concert Hall, £16-42, 7.30pm Six different orchestras and choirs playing tonight. Perhaps something a little different for your Saturday.
HAVE A SUNDAY ROAST The Taf does a wicked, and cheap Sunday roast - as do the CAI. Have a lie in, and then get some classic comfort food to help beat Saturday night's hangover or stave off the end of the weekend blues. 10 FEET TALL SUNDAY SOCIAL, 10 Feet Tall, FREE, 8pm A brand new night featuring Greg Ramshackle and Steve French, whoever the hell they are. However, if you have nothing better to do on a Sunday night and fancy heading out for two-for-one cocktails, perhaps give this a go. ATTACK! ATTACK! AND STRAIGHT LINES, The Great Hall (Cardiff SU), £6.30, 7pm We've featured Straight Lines on these pages before, and if you didn't go and see them back then, then perhaps this is karma telling you that you should go this time. Attack! Attack! on the other hand, look somewhat less appealing due to the fact that they describe themselves as an emo-pop-rock band. Choose a bloody genre and stick to it.
BOUNCE, Walkabout, £4, 9pm If you really, honestly, have nothing better to do... actually, no, even that isn't a valid excuse. No reason for going to Walkabout is acceptable in my eyes. Okay, so perhaps you have to go once in your university career, but I know that the debauchery and filth will put you off going again. If you have any personal morals, that is. C.Y.N.T, Clwb, £4, 10pm Voted as one of the top three nights in the UK by Mixmag. The biggest midweek rave this side of the Bridge. Expect big queues as ravers descend for their dose of electro, techno, dubstep and drum and bass. Advance q-jump tickets from c-y-n-t.com. This is the only legitimate thing to do on your Thursday night.
Venues Students’ Union, Park Place, 02920 814456 www.cardiffstudents.com ! IV Lounge, Neuadd Meirionydd, Heath Park 02920 744948 ! Clwb Ifor Bach, 11 Womanby Street 02920 232199 www.clwb.net ! Barfly, Kingsway, Tickets: 08709070999 www. barflyclub.com/cardiff ! Metros, Bakers Row 02920 399939 www.clubmetropolitan.com ! CAI, Park Place 02920 412190 ! Buffalo Bar, 11 Windsor Place www.myspace.com/wearebuffalobar ! Chapter Arts Centre, Canton 02920 304400 www. chapter.org ! Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay 0870 0402000 www.wmc.org.uk ! The New Theatre, Park Place 02920 878889 www.newtheatrecardiff. co.uk ! Sherman Theatre, Senghennydd Road 02920 646900 www.shermantheatre.co.uk ! Cardiff International Arena, Mary Ann Street 02920 224488 !
Sport 28
Welsh Rugby Stars launch 'Grow a Grav' Campaign
Lucy Morgan Sports Editor Last week saw the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA) launch a new campaign in honour of the late Llanelli, Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby legend, Ray Gravell. The ‘Grow a Grav’ campaign invites men across Wales to grow a beard throughout the month of November in homage to Grav’s trademark facial hair. All money raised from the campaign will go to the WRPA Benevolent Trust and the Ray Gravell and Friends Trust. Ray, who passed away in October 2007, was one of Wales’ greatest ambassadors and, in tribute to his immense achievements both on and off the pitch, the Ray Gravell and Friends Trust was set up to ensure that the passion, energy and spirit of this great man continues through the work it does. The WRPA Benevolent Trust was set up earlier this year with the aim to aid professional rugby players who have suffered hardship in the game. The campaign has so far gained huge support from a number of prominent figures in Welsh rugby with Cardiff Student and Welsh international Jamie Roberts attending the launch at Windsor Barbers in Cardiff last week. He was joined by Dragons Second Row Luke Charteris and Scarlets stars Andy Fenby and George North as they all sampled one of the Barber’s famous hot shaves to ensure they were all clean-shaven for the start of November. Also at the launch was former Wales and Cardiff Blues star and now President of the WRPA, Rhys Williams. Speaking at the launch Rhys said: “Ray Gravell was such an iconic figure in Welsh rugby that we wanted to do something fitting to remember him while also raising money for the Ray Gravell and Friends Charitable Trust and the WRPA Benevolent Fund”. “We hope that it won’t just be players getting involved in 'Grow a Grav'. We want businesses, rugby supporters and Ray Gravell fans alike to get behind the campaign. Everyone I’ve spoken to has been overwhelmingly positive and they all want to do their bit”, he added. The campaign is now live on twitter (@growagrav) and on Facebook and already has an impressive follow-
Above: Beard today, gone tomorrow
ing. In order to take part in 'Grow a Grav', the WRPA is asking people to make a £5 donation to the campaign via the WRPA’s website www.wrpa. co.uk. Donations can also be made on the justgiving page or cheque and cash donations can be sent to WRPA, 3 Assembly Square, Britannia Quay, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4PL. The WRPA are also appealing for people to upload photos of their Gravs
“
Ray Gravell was one of Wales' greatest ambassadors
to the Facebook page or email them in to growagrav@wrpa.co.uk by the end of the month. All photos will then be uploaded on to the website. What’s more, as a thank you to all those who take part, prizes will be awarded for the ‘Best Grav’. Prizes include a signed Welsh jersey and match tickets. So what are you waiting for boys? Get growing those Gravs!
Rules for Growing your Grav: 1. All contestants must be clean shaven the morning of 1st November 2010 2. Contestants have the whole month of November to sport their Grav. 3. Contestants are allowed to style their beard to shape or form a Grav.
The wildlife is quite amazing. A safari gives you the chance to see these animals in their natural habitat. Certainly better than the badgers and foxes we have to offer in Britain.
Sport29
Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd • sport@gairrhydd.com
The FA Cup first round: a footballing education says Alex Winter...
W
ho the f-----hell are you? Usually a taunt from the terraces but a very legitimate question before the first round of the FA Cup. Who on earth are Hythe Town? Who on earth are Swindon Supermarine? Who on earth are Tipton Town? All questions that are answered as the oldest cup competition in the world emerges again. Hythe Town are the lowestranked side in the draw. Their FA Cup emerged on August 14 in the Extra Preliminary Round. Bookham FC were dispatched 4-0 and their remarkable run through the qualifying stages began. Deal Town, Epsom & Ewell, Erith & Belvedere, Concord Rangers and Staines Town have all been brushed aside (only Concord Rangers were beaten by less than two goals) and Hythe now find themselves in the main draw for the first time. Hythe Town are the first Kent League side in 53 years to make it out of the qualifying rounds. A draw with Hereford United is a potential shock made less likely with the tie being drawn at Edgar Street. Hereford are currently propping up the football league, but their home ground should provide enough of an advantage to push past a team five tiers below them in the football pyramid. It’s not the most glamorous of ties for Hythe, and you can’t help feeling sorry for teams who get all that way only to be lumped with a poor draw. While Hereford are no Sheffield Wednesday or Southampton, the draw could have been far worse. Edgar Street will still provide a grand day out for Hythe. Brandon Cass, Dave Cook (17 goals between them this season) and wonderfully rotund assistant manager, Clive Cook, will enjoy themselves. Clive Cook is just the sort of man you expect to find in nonleague football. If the ITV cameras don’t feature Cook sweeping out the changing room at Hythe’s Reachfields Stadium they have missed a trick. The phrase “up for
the cup” was undoubtedly invented for him; someone who may have waited his whole life to be part of something a bit special; Saturday will be his time. Football gets all romantic about the FA Cup, particularly the early rounds; some would say rightly so. Another team to rouse fans’ sense of football ownership is FC United of Manchester: the breakaway supporters that became disillusioned with the Glazer family’s takeover of Manchester United and formed their own club; their own United. They have a base to build a future league team. They average 1,723 supporters for their Evo-Silk Premier League home games and have grand plans in place - backed by one of only ten government community share schemes - to build a £3.5million, 5,000 capacity stadium and leisure complex in Newton Heath. Their own home is essential to the
Fans of FC United of Manchester and fellow minnows are hoping for their day in the sun in the FA Cup
“
For many, the FA Cup is a lifeline in the struggle for survival.
club’s future development. At the moment far too much of the club's budget – £80,000 annually – is taken up renting Bury’s Gigg Lane, eating into the club’s policy to “provide affordable football”. FC United have an attractive local tie at Rochdale. Their opponents will like the draw, hoping many of the 3,263 fans that watched FC United beat Barrow in the fourth qualifying round will turn out at Spotland. ESPN have picked the tie as their televised fixture. FC United may be a club moving forward but for many, the FA Cup is a lifeline in the struggle for survival. Tipton Town of the Midland Alliance Division One have progressed to the main draw for the first time in their history. Their eight-game run has netted the Staffordshire club £31, 750 - enough, according to
their chairman Bill Williams, to keep the club in business for the next five seasons. "Normally we get knocked out in the first qualifying round," said Williams, "so to get this far is fantastic." Tipton could add another £18,000 to their FA Cup revenue if they create a huge upset against Carlisle United at Brunton Park. One thousand, five hundred fans saw Tipton beat Sheffield FC in the fourth qualifying round replay. Around 2,000 are anticipated to make the trip to the north-west. While around 1,000 fewer supporters were in attendance at Bath City for the midweek fourth qualifying round replay. The drama defied the attendance as Swindon Supermarine advanced into the first round for the first time in their short history. The team was created from two clubs in crisis in 1992 as Swindon Athletic and Supermarine FC amalgamated. The newly formed club has risen to tier three of the non-league structure and have produced a cup run to rival Swindon Town, who reached the semi-finals in 1910. Supermarine have navigated their way through four rounds of qualifying and have been rewarded with probably the best tie of the cup's lowest-ranked teams. Eastwood Town of the Blue Sqaure North will visit the Webb's Wood Stadium. Supermarine, named after the aircraft company, who built the Supermarine Spitfire in World War II, represent the best opportunity for a cup shock from the real minnows. Several league clubs also face very tricky away trips. A once mighty Sheffield Wednesday, now in the nPower League One, will have to navigate their way around a trip to Southport. It will be no seaside jolly. Southport are enjoying an upsurge in their fortunes, winning the Blue Square North last season. They will relish the £67, 500 for ITV's coverage. The other team to benefit from broadcast money are Cambridge United, who will host League One side Huddersfield Town. Cambridge, now in their fifth season back in non-league, reached the quarter-finals in 1990 and 1991 and will be hoping a cup upset can begin another run for one of Britain's more successful smaller clubs.
FULL FIRST-ROUND DRAW Colchester United v Bradford City; Corby Town v Luton Town; Harrow Borough v Chesterfield; Notts County v Gateshead; Stevenage v Milton Keynes Dons; Southport v Sheffield Wednesday; Rotherham United v York City; Havant & Waterlooville v Droylsden; Bury v Exeter City; Cheltenham Town v Morecambe; Hayes & Yeading v Wycombe Wanderers; Dagenham & Redbridge v Leyton Orient; AFC Wimbledon v Ebbsfleet United; Lincoln City v Nuneaton Town; Mansfield Town v Torquay United; Hereford United v Hythe Town; Bournemouth v Tranmere Rovers; Chelmsford City v Hendon; Swindon Supermarine v Eastwood Town; Rushden & Diamonds v Yeovil Town; Southampton v Shrewsbury Town; Cambridge United v Huddersfield Town; Burton Albion v Oxford United; Gillingham v Dover Athletic; Tamworth v Crewe Alexandra; Darlington v Bristol Rovers; Guiseley v Crawley Town; Brighton & Hove Albion v Woking; Macclesfield Town v Southend United; Rochdale v FC United of Manchester; Carlisle United v Tipton; Dartford v Port Vale; Forest Green Rovers v Northampton Town; Fleetwood Town v Walsall; Barnet v Charlton Athletic; Plymouth Argyle v Swindon Town; Accrington Stanley v Oldham Athletic; Hartlepool United v Vauxhall Motors; Stockport County v Peterborough United; Brentford v Aldershot Town
Swindon Supermarine will hope to continue their FA Cup run against Eastwood Town.
Sport31
Monday November 01 2010 • gair rhydd • sport@gairrhydd.com
BUCS 2010-11 Medal Success for Cardiff at Welsh Grand Prix Vinod Patel Tae Kwon Do October 24 was a superb day for Cardiff University Taekwon-do members. Several students travelled up to stage three of the competition, bringing back an impressive collection of medals with them; the students managed to clinch the top positions for all patterns. After an amazing start with the patterns, the temperature was rising for the sparring. Both Cardiff students, Vinod Patel and Paul Chappell, managed to secure their place in the final yellow/ green belt sparring. It was a brutal match with several headshots both ways, and the match going into extra time. Vinod managed to pinch the win and get the gold. Next up was the men’s heavyweight blue/red belt category. First up, Cardiff ’s Adam Gaunt faced Ely tae kwon do’s David Heath. Adam, with a massive weight disadvantage managed to hang in there at first but David’s kicks were delivered with lightning speed and precision. David Heath went through to face Cardiff ’s Michael Perks, who had lost to David in the previous Grand Prix in Stages one and two. However, since Michael had been training intensely for this fight, perfect-
BUCS Fixtures - 03/11/2010 Football: AFC Mens 1 v Brunel 1 (Away) AFC Womens I v Bath I (Away) Badminton: ing his technique and stamina, he managed to over-shadow David, securing himself the gold. In the female category, Cardiff ’s Rebekah Alexander, fly weight, was drawn in a tough group two weight categories above. Fighting against Sacha Baber from TKDa, Rebekah gave an outstanding performance landing several kicks to the head and chest, scoring vital points. In the end it was Sacha’s numerous punches that won her the round. Next to face her was Cardiff ’s Sarah Farthing. Sarah too was at a slight weight disadvantage but she stepped up and managed to land a few headshots. Sacha’s punches were still rolling in, at one point knocking Sarah’s headgear
Confident start to the season for Badminton Darren Wong Badminton The women’s team cruised through their first match against Cambridge in the Premier league, having been promoted last year. The girls beat Cambridge 8:0 without dropping a set and with no game conceding more than ten points. There were great performances by the two singles players, Alyssia Broomfield and Sian Houdmont, who won both of their games comfortably. The girls’ captain Charlie Wigston partnered Olivia Payne while Jess Shotton joined Rosh Mann and both pairs out-classed Cambridge’s doubles. The men’s 1st team had a less fortunate away match against UWE which they lost 5:3. Dominic Brown won both his singles while Nic Strange won his first singles match but lost in three other sets. It was a strong performance from both doubles pairs; captain James Mignanelli paired with Rohit, and Wai Yee Lim with Markus Kopp.
James and Rohit lost both their matches but fought hard to the end. A determined partnership from Wai and Markus ensured that they took both their matches to three sets and showed no signs of giving up. On a brighter note, the men’s 2nd team made easy work of Swansea’s 2nd team, beating them 8:0 away. Despite a slippery court and terrible lighting, the strong partnership and attacking play from Phil Nichols and Richard Townsend ensured a quick win in both their doubles matches. Darren Wong and Michael Khong had a slow start to their new doubles partnership but they found their form eventually as they switched to a more aggressive play style to take both their doubles matches in straight sets. The two singles players, Simon Schnabel and Ishak Ahmad, out-performed their singles opponents and won both their singles in straight sets to ease the second team into a comfortable start to the season.
out of place. Sarah fought back but was unable to get the points required for victory. Cardiff also had a member on the judge’s panel; black belt Danielle Morashti represented the senior rankings of Cardiff University Tae kwon-do club, casting a sharp eye on precision, technicality and power in the patterns. Overall, it was a successful day for Cardiff University, collectively bringing home 12 medals! The Welsh Grand Prix was a good warm up for the club, who will now have to train hard and bring up their game for the UK National Tournament which will be taking place on November 7.
Mens I v Bath II (Away) Mens II v Glamorgan III (Away)\ Womens I v Exeter I Talybont 2pm Basketball: Womens I v Marjons I (Away) Mens I v Southampton I Talybont 3pm Fencing: Mens I v Bath I (Away) Womens I v Plymouth I Talybont 2pm Hockey: Womens I v Gloucester I (Away) Mens I v Bristol Talybont 4pm Lacrosse: Mens v Marjons I (Away) Netball: I v Gloucester I (Away) II v Newport II Talybont 1pm IV v Hartpury I (Away) V v Medics I Talybont 2.30pm Medics I v Cardiff IV Talybont 2.30pm Medics II v Swansea II Talybont 4pm Rugby: Medics II v Gloucester II (Away) Ladies v Chicester I Llanrumney 2pm Medics II v Exeter II Llanrumney 2pm Squash: Mens I v UWE I (Away) Table Tennis: Mens I v Bath II (Away) Tennis: Mens II v UWIC I (Away) Womens I v Exeter II (Away) Womens II v Aberystwyth Welsh Tennis Centre 12pm Mens I v Aberystwyth I Welsh Tennis Centre 12pm
Sport
Welsh Rugby's latest charity initiative << Inside
Above: Cardiff I on their way to victory.
Cardiff dominate Korfball Championships All three Cardiff University teams impress at freshers tournament William Hayward Korfball Writer Cardiff University Korfball Club dominated the Cardiff fresher’s tournament last weekend with all three University teams finishing in the top five out of the 14 teams competing. Cardiff University firsts eventually went on to win the tournament. In a competition which required at least half of all players competing to be new to the sport, Cardiff firsts started their group in brilliant fashion. A competent Reading University team were humbled 5-1, with three of the goals coming from new players Tom Goodman, Sarah Munro and Grace Mckay. After this tremendous start to the competition, Cardiff firsts eventually qualified for the semi finals, finishing in second place behind a strong Birmingham second team. Cardiff University seconds
meanwhile topped group two, producing a string of top quality performances. Alex Zens was in particularly fine form, scoring four goals. The team were unbeaten in the group stages, with an impressive thrashing of BUCS favourites Nottingham University by four goals to one the highlight. A narrow 1-0 victory over Birmingham University firsts followed, the only goal of the game coming from Pat Merton. Merton went on to be the top scoring new player across all three Cardiff teams with four goals in the tournament. This set the stage for an eagerly anticpated semi-final between Cardiff firsts and Cardiffseconds. Cardiff University thirds meanwhile had been very unlucky not to make the semi-final, having lost just one game during the tournament group stages. However, they finished in a respectable fifth position after winning a play-off against Birmingham. Experienced play-
ers Andy Fell and Bella Wong both impressed in attack with Charlotte Reilly a rock in the defence. Fresher Alex Morgan also caught the eye for the University third team.
Preview FA Cup First Round << Inside With fifth place decided, the crowd eagerly awaited the all-Cardiff semi final, between Cardiff firsts and seconds . Cardiff seconds started the brighter of the two teams with a goal from veteran medic Lucy Czaplicka giving them an early lead. Led by an impressive defensive display from Jo Nash, Cardiff II held their lead until the last five minutes when Nisha Woolfenden levelled for University firsts. Both sides played expansive and exciting attacking
Korfball with high levels of fitness being displayed. The fantastic quality of play on show was particularly impressive given the level of inexperience and number of debutants on both teams. Sadly for Cardiff seconds, William Hayward clinched victory for Cardiff firsts after a period of sustained pressure. This left Cardiff firsts with a place in the tournament final against local rivals Bristol firsts. Spectators and other teams gathered to watch the final of what had been a tournament of the highest standard. The final didn’t fail to live up to expectations, with Cardiff twice coming back from a goal down to draw 2-2. Tom Goodman scored his second goal in an impressive debut tournament. His celebration after making it 1-1 will live long in the memory. After conceding a second goal and again falling behind, Cardiff firsts needed to draw on all of their energy to get back into the game. Great
team play then saw William Hayward score off a veer to level the match at the death and make it 2-2. With the teams unable to be seperated in normal time, the tournamen was to be decided by the dreaded penalty shootout. Both teams agreed to let the new players take penalties. First up for Cardiff firsts was Tom Goodman who slotted his penalty away with ease. Bristol then missed their penalty and it was left to Amin Elkhawad to seal victory for Cardiff. Elkhawad, who was on top form for Cardiff throughout the competition, topped off a memorable day's play by putting away his penalty. The ball balanced on the edge of the korf before it dropped in to seal a memorable victory for Cardiff. After a wonderful tournament where all three Cardiff teams excelled, the Korfball club are now looking forward to what should be an extremely successful and enjoyable BUCS season.
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