gair rhydd Monday September 26 2011 | Issue 956
freeword – Est. 1972
Record student engagement
Inside this week:
The
2263 used three or more
Number of services used by individual students last year
45% Non-Union Users
55% Union Users
Politics page 12
Features investigate what some students did with their summers Features page 16
And more, inside Wales’ number one independent student newspaper
de
3666 used two
6341 used just one service
Percentage of student population who use the Union’s services last year
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The aftermath of the UK riots and what they mean for law & order
si
The numbers in brief:
in
Continued on page 3.
ee
Recent statistics, released by the Cardiff Students’ Union prove that during one year, over half of the student population at Cardiff utilised at least one of its services. This is compared to an original estimate of less than a quarter. According to the Union’s figures, out of the 26,065 students at Cardiff, 14,357 had unique interaction with the Union. Around 52% of this number used just one service, leaving 48% of students exceeding this. Previously, it was estimated that the figure was only hitting around 4000. Over the space of 12 months, a database has been tracking how many students utilise in the Union, by recording their individual identification numbers after every use. Findings displayed how many unique uses there were and in which particular areas of the Union. Utilised services included: renting a house from Cardiff Student Letting, purchasing a ticket for one of the Union’s club nights or visits to the ARC (Advice and Representation Centre). This year’s statistics confirm a vast increase of what was originally expected, shining light on Cardiff Students’ Union as we begin this forthcoming academic year.
Marcus Coates-Walker, President of Cardiff Students’ Union told gair rhydd: “This data shows that the Union reaches out to a huge number of students at Cardiff University. It shows the positive impact that it has on students’ lives in Cardiff. We now know that we engage with a large amount of our students through the different services we provide. This doesn’t change the Union’s goal to engage with all students; in fact it shows that we are having great success.” Despite positive attitude regarding these figures, the Union acknowledges that there is still a large amount of Cardiff students who are disengaged with their facilities and are using this information as an incentive to develop this. Marcus added: “There is always room to improve; we endeavour to reach disengaged students and with projects such as ‘The Lounge’ we are reaching out to those that haven’t yet experienced the fantastic services of Cardiff Students’ Union.” The statistics reflect areas of improvement in terms of attracting disengaged students. Of the 14,000 who use the Union, a vast 99.4% are full-time students, leaving 0.6% of users who are part-time. Similarly, 80.6% of users are Domestic students, leaving 13.3% which are non-EU and only 6.1% that are from the EU.
Fr
Laura Evans News Editor
02News
gr EDITOR Oliver Smith
CO-ORDINATOR Elaine Morgan SUB-EDITORS Pippa Lewis James Dunn Yas Langley Chris Williams NEWS Sheri Hall Henry McMorrow Hannah Pendleton Matt Jones Laura Evans OPINION Izzy Voss Libby van den Bosch COLUMNIST POLITICS Luke Slade Sophie Gidley FEATURES Ellen Atkinson Ali Ishaq SCIENCE Jenny Lambourne SOCIETIES Isabelle Roberts
SPORT Jamie Evans Zac Cole CONTRIBUTORS Elliw Mair Tom Clarke Rosey Brown Lucy Richardson PROOFREADERS Sinead Morrison Chris Williams Alex Bywater Beckie Saunders Xpressaurus Rex Alice Southern
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pg. 8
Chris Williams takes a look at how we treat celebrities and our expectations of them
gairrhydd
Check out our new website at www.gairrhydd.com Come and at the socieites fayre on the 26th and 27th to get involved!
pg. 16-17
Features tells us what they did on their summer holidays
sudoku. pg. 13
EASY
Taf-Od Elliw Mair
sport. taf-od. societies. science. features. politics. opinion. news.
Monday September 26 2011
Science takes a look at the environmental views of the Presidential candidates
pg. 26
Sport round up all the athletics action from the world championship
For the answer and more puzzles, head over to page 24
News 1-6
Monday September 26 2011
Opinion Politics Features Science Societies Listings 20 18 23 8-9 12 - 13 16 - 17
03
gairrhydd
IKEA have launched a ‘man crèche’ in a bid to stop arguments between couples on shopping trips. An Ikea branch in Australia has launched Manland, a crèche for men, in a bid combat arguments between couples and to make shopping with a loved one less stressful. The Sydney store offers a haven of hot dogs, pinball machines, Playstations, table football and non-stop sports coverage for men who cannot be bothered to walk around the store. They have even provided buzzers so that women remember to pick up their other halves after 30 minutes of shopping.
Got Milk?
Tom Clarke Contributor A blogger has caused worldwide disgust with his attempt to survive by only consuming his wife's breastmilk. "I know how weird this may sound, it is kind of weird to me as well but why not?" said blogger Curtis. "I mean cow milk was made for baby cows, why not drink breast milk that was made for babies."
CF10. I’ll probably start using ‘The Lounge’ when that opens because I’ve heard about the new things going on there.” Will Hogarth-Jones, 2nd Year Law student: “In my honest opinion, I think Cardiff Students’ Union is pretty good. Out of personal preference, I never use the Union for its night-life and I rarely use any other services. But I am aware it has a lot of good facilities which, if I wanted, I could probably utilise more.” Joanne Southerd, 2nd Year English Literature: “I think that during my first year at Cardiff, I used the Union most days for various different things. I signed up to JobShop, used the Union Shop fairly regularly and attended club nights in Solus like Boombox and Fun Factory. I am also heavily involved with student media especially Quench and Xpress so I am always around and about the Union.”
pg. 4-5 News interviews Niz Mhani on his role in Libya
Record student engagement The Union’s awareness of these figures means that they can improve by focussing on these disengaged students and appealing to their needs. However, there are some services which the Union fails to include on the database. For example, cash interactions at the Union Shop are not accounted for and likewise, the purchasing of ‘on the door’ tickets at Solus are not recorded. Areas of Cardiff Student Media such as gair rhydd, Quench, Xpress Radio and CUTV, are not incorporated into the figures. There also may have been times in the ARC where student ID numbers haven’t been collected due to busyness. gair rhydd spoke to some students about their use of Cardiff Students’ Union: Sarah Lewis, 2nd Year Medic: “I use the Union mainly to buy things from the shop or to spend time in
Pippa Lewis Sub Editor
pg. 12
A local radio station in Scotland accused of broadcasting bad language has claimed that it was merely referring to a popular Italian sandwich. Brick FM radio, based in the Scottish borders, has been criticised by Ofcom for playing songs containing the words ‘f***’ and ‘punani’. However, the station argued against these accusations, by clarifying that ‘punani’ was a “sandwich sold locally made of Italian bread with cheese and tomato which is heated up”. The station also claimed that the word ‘f***’ is a part of the local dialect, helpfully explaining that it is a “commonly used word in Scotland, as a description when something goes wrong or if they get angry or upset”. It is not yet clear whether the responses made by the radio station are disingenuous, but Ofcom has definitely not seen the funny side. It has warned that it regards the infringement as serious and that the station’s broadcasting license will be under review if regulations are broken again.
World News
The Man crèche
Luke Slade takes a n in depth look at the story so far
Matt Jones News Editor
Libya Special.
Punani / Panini?
The week by tweets
Sport 26 - 27
@HarrietLaura
@Hannahhh_H
@GradeItReviews
Oh tiger why do you do this to me? #cardifffreshers
Just bought my fancy drees costume for tomorrow #loveit home time now then out for our first night as #CardiffFreshers tonight! :-)
Absolutely exhausted... But on a positive note I'm all packed and ready to jet off to costa del Caerdydd tomorrow! #CardiffFreshers
04News
Monday September 26 2011
The 3D Taf Matt Jones News Editor
The Student Union has decided to introduce 3D television in The Taf for the new academic year. Six new 3D TVs have been installed, including four 42" and two 55" screens, replacing the six current 2D screens. Students will have the opportunity to watch all major sports events which are broadcasted in 3D, including Premiership football and the 2012 Olympic Games. The total cost of the project comes to £5000, and it is hoped that the money will be recovered through increased bar revenues on important match days. Nick Matthew, the Union’s Finance and Commercial Officer, said
Laura Evans News Editor For the first year, Cardiff University and Cardiff Students’ Union have partnered up with an environmental campaign in an attempt to improve students’ eco-friendliness and to prepare first year students for the reality of paying bills when moving into their own student houses.
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"I think that this is a terrific investment! Sport in 3D looks great, and now the students have it in their Union. We want the students to see the Taf as their first choice of pub for both food and drink, and I think that this goes some way to making it the best pub around." The glasses needed to watch the 3D TV will be available from behind the bar for £1, although because the TVs use the same glasses used in cinemas, students will also be able to bring their own. More traditional television watching tastes will also be catered for, with two projectors showing the match in 2D, both of which have recently been updated.
‘Student Switch Off ’ is a non profit campaign that encourages students to save energy in University Halls of Residence and currently has 43 universities involved in the project, including Cardiff University. Cardiff has signed up in time for the 2011/2012 first year’s arrival and is currently the only Welsh institution to have joined the campaign. Electricity monitors have been in-
stalled in several Halls of Residence around campus and there will be on going competitions throughout the year, to see which one saves the most power, earning students various prizes. In the past, universities involved with ‘Student Switch Off ’ have collectively saved over 1,580 tonnes of C02, over £34,000 in electricity expenditure and in 2010/2011 there was an average reduction in elec-
tricity usage in halls of 7% across 37 HEIs. Chris Davies, the Welfare Officer for Cardiff Students’ Union, spoke to gair rhydd: "We are very happy that Cardiff University has chosen to be the first Welsh institution to sign up to the big 'student switch off'. Major components of the Union’s new Strategic Plan, are partnership and sustainability, making this a fantastic scheme for us to be
involved with. When students move out of halls they are hit with the reality of bills; if first years can learn a few energy saving tips and tricks, they will end up easily reducing their bills and have a huge impact on a sustainable future.” The first event of the 'Student Switch Off' will take place at the Freshers Fayre on September 25 and 26.
The Cardiff Award pilot scheme starts Henry McMorrow News Editor The university has announced plans to run an award scheme for students who exceed expectations through their involvement in extra curricular activities. Students who are involved with a number of activities are invited to sign up to the scheme with the aim of receiving a certificate after one academic year. The Award, which is the brainchild of the University’s Employability and Entrepreneurial Committee, has been endorsed
by the Vice Chancellor, Ernst and Young, Rate my Placement, Champions Life Academy and Petersons. It offers a great opportunity for students to improve their CVs by distinguishing themselves from other students who may achieve the same academically. This year a pilot scheme is being run with 52 students, primarily enrolled on their second year of study, however when the scheme is officially launched next year, 150 spaces will be available across all schools. The pilot will run from
October to the end of May, with the awards ceremony attended by the Vice Chancellor. Students wishing to sign up to the scheme, must prove their eligibility through their participation in a variety of different schemes. They must complete at least 70 hours of extra curricular work, which could include a placement or work experience; undertake six compulsory and two optional workshops; complete a numerical test; present a self assessment of their progress and deliver a formal presentation
to employers and university staff. The Award is aimed at ambitious students who wish to differentiate themselves from fellow applicants in today’s competitive jobs market. It offers the opportunity to do this, by recognising the important extra curricular work that many Cardiff students participate in, with a scheme endorsed by influential companies. For more information email Kathryn Foot at cardiffaward@cardiff.ac.uk.
News 1-6
Monday September 26 2011
Opinion Politics Feature Science Societies Listings 20 23 8-9 12 - 13 16 - 17 18
Sport 26 - 27
News05
gairrhydd
"I packed my bags and headed to Libya" Henry McMorrow talks to Cardiff graduate Nizar Mhani on his experiences in Tripoli
Often fearing for his life at the forefront of proceedings, gair rhydd spoke to Niz on the September 13, now the uprising has seen the fall of Gaddafi and Libya can now look to a more hopeful future.
Our conversation began with the discussion of Niz’s time in Cardiff, I wanted to know whether being a student had prepared him for his efforts in Libya. “I grew as a person during my years in Wales. I experienced things which prepared me for some of the hardships we faced in the last 6 months. If anything I have done can be described as good, then it is thanks to my time in Cardiff. Apart from the odd anti-war rally, attending the occasional speaker in the SU, I wasn’t politically active at uni. "I never imagined I would be an activist pursuing freedom in Libya, against the longest serving dictator of our time.” Conversation progressed to the iniquities in Libyan society and I asked Niz if there had been a strong sense of demoralisation for an extended period of time, or whether it had matured in recent years, he replied: “There has been injustice in Libya for the past 42 years. We have lived in a society dominated by Gaddafi rule, in a country monopolised by Gaddafi’s regime, in a nation void of the institutions which define a state. All of Libya’s beauty is that which is natural. The previous regime has provided us with nothing. No welfare, no freedom of choice, no developed infrastructure. The absence of choice has created a nation and a society void of ambition. People became lethargic under the weight of apathy. All
the while we would see Gaddafi's children enjoying private concerts, sitting on private islands, sailing on private yachts. "So much was our apathy and ‘acceptance’ that Gaddafi would remain in power indefinitely, that we came to accept his son, Seif Al Gaddafi, as the heir and we took comfort in the claims of reform and democratic change. We were fooled by the rhetoric and we were deceived by his charm. We soon found out, during the infamous speech on the night of February 20 2011, the speech that caused me to pack my bags and leave Cardiff, that he was indeed his father’s son.” It was important to gauge the human cost of the efforts in Libya so we moved focus to his family, I wanted to know how it had affected them. “It has been very difficult for my family. Knowing that I had left everything behind and sacrificed a career which I had spent years developing, they were understandably worried. Indeed, thousands remain missing, have been killed or physically scarred and millions will retain psychological scars for life. "My family are heroes and their strength was my inspiration. When the security forces found out our names and raided the family homes of the founders of the Free Generation Movement, it was their courage which saved us all. "But it has taken its toll. My mother fell ill, my father has fallen ill, my cousin was arrested and tortured, my sister was interrogated and threatened and my cousin, became a martyr. We miss him dearly, but there is no greater honour than to lay down your life for a greater good. His sacrifice will be taught in schools and remembered in public squares long after we have all gone.”
pg. 12
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n February 15 2011 Libya witnessed a series of peaceful protests escalate into civil war. At the front-line of the protests is an ex-Cardiff University student, Nizar Mhani, who left for Libya’s capital, Tripoli, in February to “play his part” in the ongoing protests. Advancing on his expectations ‘Niz’, as he is internationally known, has become a forerunner of the protests, belonging to the Free Generation Movement and being described by The Washington Post as “vitally important,” and commanding huge levels of attention from around the world. Despite Libya’s prosperity, it is still suffering from huge economic disparities, a fact which has been endorsed by Colonel Gadaffi’s 42 yearlong, de facto control, which was realised through a military coup. Faced with the initial levels of peaceful protest, Gadaffi and his supporters employed unreasonable levels of force, prompting the more aggressive campaign which has dominated the uprising. Now in its seventh month of progress, the protest has seen an alternation of power between the opposing sides, Gadaffi often using his unlimited power to quash dissent, but finally being beaten by the sheer tenacity of countervailing opinion and force. Initially running a public campaign of civil disobedience, Niz was forced underground by Gadaffi’s troops. Unfaltering in the face of adversity, he continued with his efforts, pursuing a clandestine mode of protest, focusing primarily on morale boosting with graffiti, raising flags and through communication with world media.
Our discussion turned to the media, its effectiveness and its reliability; I asked whether the media had proved an effective tool. “The majority of the networks I have been in touch with have been great: supportive, honest, but impartial. We needed impartiality in the media to be able to have credibility for our cause. But not all journalists and not all media networks were on the ball. Where I was based, Tripoli, the international media were locked in a hotel and were not allowed free access to the people or the city. We would run the risk of arrest and torture if we communicated with the media in any way. We managed to be resourceful and carried out some secret interviews with Reuters, BBC (Wales' very own Wyre Davies) and others. This involved helping them escape the hotel and meeting at secure locations to carry out interviews. However, some journalists were not interested in what we had to say and chose instead to base their reports heavily on what the regime would tell them in press conferences. Some were portraying Tripoli to be a city which was normal and which was heavily pro Gaddafi. This couldn’t be further from the truth. "I have been in constant communication with the BBC, Sky, Aljazeera, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reuters, and others. They have been really great and supportive and always put my safety first. "Whatever you think about the media - hidden agendas, bias, government controlled - the one thing we agree upon in the Free Generation Movement, is that they are essential. Without the media, there would have been a silent massacre of the people of Libya. For this, we are infinitely thankful for the resourcefulness, persistence and courage of the media, some of whom lost their life telling our story - like Anton Hammerl. They will be remembered like all the others who lost their life for our cause. They are heroes.” For the final section of our interview I wanted to focus on the future: what Niz believed to be in
store for Libya and, more personally, whether he was planning to return to Wales. “Going through the characteristics of Libya, it’s really hard to be anything but hugely positive about its future. We are a moderate, peaceful society with an abundance of natural resources. We have a population of only 6 million people and powerful, forward thinking, liberal women in our society. We have senior professionals in major sectors all over the world, including heads of departments in Welsh hospitals. We have a harmonious population, void of sectarianism or religious enmity and are in a strategic location, acting as the gateway between Africa and Europe as well as the middle east. It really is a country which can grow and grow and grow. The distribution of wealth is vital, but even more so, is the use of this wealth to first create the infrastructure and the state institutions which have for so long been missing in Libya. "The biggest hurdle for Libya is one of social awareness. We have, for 42 years, lived under autocratic rule. The concept of freedom and liberty, constitution and democracy, free speech and accountability are all new concepts to our society. We will have to be patient as our society becomes accustomed to new norms and new mindsets. The Free Generation Movement will be involved in creating the platforms and the forums through which these debates can take place."The future is bright. For every problem I see, I see an opportunity to fix it. I couldn’t say that seven months ago.” “I consider Wales my second home and I consider myself to be an adopted Welshman. Wales has been good to me and prepared me for the difficulties I faced in the last six months of uprising. I can’t see myself making a decision which involves me not returning to Wales. But my role in Libya will continue, as we continue to take on a more high profile role in the development of Libyan society. Perhaps I can work on improving links between Libyan universities and Cardiff University, as well as raising awareness of Welsh culture in Libya and, of course, Libyan culture in Wales. "Who knows, I believe in the concept of the global community. Wherever I live and wherever I am, I will always be Libyan and will always strive for a better Libya. Even if it is from my home, in Caerdydd.”
Libya: The Story so far...
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There is no greater honour than to lay down your life for a greater good.
06News
Monday September 26 2011
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National Student Survey Success
Sheri Hall News Editor The National Student Survey 2011 has found that Cardiff University has maintained its student satisfactory rating since last year as it retains its overall score of 86% for course experience. Cardiff remains 2nd in Wales for student satisfaction behind Aberystwyth University, and is in 10th place out of Russell Group institutions. According to the survey, Cardiff University’s overall strengths lie in its ‘Teaching’ (87%) and ‘Learning Resources’ (86%) and is let down by approaches to ‘Assessment & Feedback’ (60%). Among the best performing courses for overall satisfaction include Civil Engineering (Meng),
Over the moon Hannah Pendleton News Editor
Mechanical Engineering (Beng) and Physiology with an unbeatable 100% whilst the likes of Medicine (graduate route) and Accounting & Management performed the worst with 44% and 54%, respectfully. Although Cardiff has managed to level out its score from last year, there has been significant deterioration of student satisfaction within particular courses. Accounting & Management’s overall satisfaction score plunged to 54% from last years score of 93%, dropping more than any other course. The course has suffered the most damage in areas such as the sense of ‘Personal Development’ (78-41%) students gain from the course and ‘Academic Support’ (7849%) they receive from the staff. Other courses that appear to have slipped considerably include
Environmental Geo-Science (94%64%) and Social Science (85-62%), particularly in the ‘Organisation & Management’ of the course as well as ‘Assessment & Feedback’. Despite the survey suggesting that some courses are losing touch with their students, Cardiff University’s score has been levelled out by other courses that have seen a massive improvement in student satisfaction. One of the most significant improvements was seen in Mental Health Nursing, whose student satisfaction soared from 47% last year to 89%. Although the course improved in all categories, the most significant improvements were in ‘Personal Development’(56-93%) and ‘Teaching’(60-83%). Other courses that have seen a significant improvement include
Midwifery (75-100%), Archaeology (79-100%) and Bio-Chemistry (79100%). The National Student Survey has been in practice for seven years, with more universities taking part than ever before. This is the 2nd year Cardiff University has taken part in the survey, with hopes that a pattern will emerge over the years and allow the institution to monitor and improve student experience. The results allow potential students to make informed choices about where and what they are going to study, as well allowing universities to facilitate best practice and review their progress on an annual basis.
A Cardiff University Biosciences student is beginning the new academic year over in Florida for a placement with NASA. Kyle Grant has just finished his second year of studying Microbiology and Astrophysics. During the year, the internship will take him to the Space Life Science Laboratory at the Kennedy Space Centre, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and the Johnson Space Centre in Texas. Grant will even get to take part in simulated flights and experience what it is really like to be in deep space conditions. NASA work placements are highly competitive with a lot of US student applicants, however this did not put Kyle off taking the chance: “I got about doing program after applying online through the NASA website. After a long process of tests and interviews I was lucky enough to be selected.” “I decided that some people do the lottery, so why shouldn’t I give this a shot?” Speaking to Kyle earlier this month as he began the placement he stated, “I’m very excited as I have actually started this week and am settling into the scheme nicely.” Kyle will return to the UK this Christmas for a break from life in Florida with family and friends. “I think I’ll be okay for a year seeing as I get to come back for a bit over Christmas and have friends/girlfriend coming over to visit. Skype helps a lot too.” Despite his new venture Kyle says he does not feel nervous. “I’m not feeling apprehensive about anything really as everyone is so polite and helpful here in the USA, particularly at the Kennedy Space Centre. However some zero-g training later on in the course could be interesting. “It’s always been my greatest interest and potentially one day being an astronaut would be fantastic! I’m most looking forward to most of the time I'm here and some of the research were doing is very exciting and should accelerate space travel quicker than we thought”.
Opinion
08
Monday September 26 2011
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Celeb madness: Their fault or ours?
Chris Williams Online Editor Open any tabloid newspaper and there are bound to be a number of headlines that scream for your attention. Normally they are ‘scandals’ about the state of the country / asylum seekers / people claiming benefits or whatever other non-story has been turned into a headline due to a slow news day. However, these papers also tap into a lust of the public: Celebrities. Stories of what someone else is doing are normally quite boring. If I told you that a friend was planning a trip to a nearby pub later, it is unlikely that you would be particularly interested (and perhaps question the likelihood of someone as dull as me actually possessing a ‘friend’). However, if I told you Cheryl Cole was going to the pub near me later, you would jump at the chance to catch a glimpse of the dubiously talented celebrity, who appears unable to choose a decent boyfriend. The story would probably go in the tabloids the next morning, under a heading like: “Cheryl’s boozy night out,” with ‘friends of the star’ saying how worried they are about her drinking problem, all accompanied by a photo of her that attempts to ascertain the colour of her underwear as she emerges from a taxi. That is the thing. Get into the public eye and people start taking
notice of you: they track your every move, follow you on Twitter, desire to be near you and even strive to look like you - just look at Cheryl Lloyd... sorry, Cher Lloyd. Once in the public eye you’ve got to live up to your image. If you are Vanessa Hudgens, you cannot get away with taking naked pictures of yourself and sending them to your Disney co-star, yet if your fame is a result of you publicly being a bastard, then equally you cannot really be seen helping out at your local charity bake sale. Frankie Boyle, for example, will probably never apologise to Jordan for that joke last year. The public is fickle; we love celebrities, yet as soon as they digress from our perceived impression of them, they become a national pariah, loathed by the press - the pantomime baddy of the moment. Perhaps the reason that a misdoing can lead to them being vilified in this way, is that we believe that these people owe us something; we got them there and they must therefore act in the way that we want them to. It is easy to forget that these people are only human, albeit with a lot of money, and are susceptible to the same vices as any of us. The public’s desire seems particularly reserved for those who we ‘made famous’ - the Jade Goodys and Jordans of the world, where very little talent was required to
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sky-rocket them into the height of magazine and tabloid fame (and before you ask, Jordan is not a ‘businesswoman’ but instead an insecure teenager with a B-cup who capitalised on her boob job and a lack of self respect) - it doesn’t mean they owe us anything. What role do we have to play in all of this? I’m referring of course, to the people who decide that Kerry Katona’s 15th TV series about how she used to be rich and thin but is now poor and fat (but can still afford enough cocaine to get herself chucked off the Iceland ads?) is the eptiome of great television. Thus, we continue to help fund her self destruction and gain a sick satisfaction from the inevitable events that unfold in front of us. Ironically, we look down our noses at the Britneys and Katonas of the world, in spite of the fact that we are the cause of it. The pressures of fame and of having to live up to the inflated image that we give them is part of the cause of a lack of money, or drug abuse or shaving your hair off in a manic episode. Instead of looking up at celebrities with scorn and hate because they’re not doing what we expect them to, we should turn the lens in on ourselves. One South Park episode exemplified this, by showing a half mutilated head of Britney Spears entering a studio to record yet another album. It may be comic
and over the top, but it served to make a serious point, demonstrating how obsession both propels celebrities to fame and then destroys them. If I had a drug addiction, aside from close friends or family, nobody would know or care. However, if I had a drug addiction, massive boobs and a regular presence on television or in the papers, I would be writing my third autobiography. It is therefore no surprise that celebrities end up destroying themselves in the public eye, but it is ridiculous to suggest that they somehow owe us something, or ought to act how we dictate that they should.
Follow @GairRhyddOp for the latest news and info on future articles.
News Politics Feature Science Societies Listings 20 1 - 6 Opinion 12 - 13 16 - 17 18 23 8-9
Monday September 26 2011
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As a manner of fact... Daisy Esther Payne Opinion Writer Einstein once said ‘try not to be a man of success. Rather a man of value’ and I think he may have been on to something. Here we are in 2011 with the endless availability of material possessions, technology and communication at our finger tips and yet this could all be meaningless if we do not have good manners and respect for each other. Good manners don’t cost anything, so why does it feel as though the majority of men have forgotten just how to respect women? Is it because girls have lost respect for themselves? Does it go against masculinity to be polite and well mannered? Is the good old fashioned gentleman a breed of man that has been lost forever? Does it hurt to stand up for that young lady on the bus, but ladies do we want him to? Are females too stubborn in recent times to let a man be kind, without assuming an ulterior motive? Maybe the loss of the gentleman is down to the female’s quest for equality and the fact that some females no longer see themselves as the traditional ‘lady’. Could it be that because in this day and age the genders are equal, that some men no longer see it as their duty to have respect for women, and do women want such respect anymore? Does the blame lie with the girls? Have females striven too far over the course of history for equality and yet still demand the same gentlemanly qualities from men that there once was? But then I must ask, is it really a lot to request for a man to hold the door open for a woman every once in a while? Should I, as a female be holding doors open for men nowadays? Some might suggest that the ‘lad’ culture dictates that if god forbids a male should treat a female well – they have “gone soft” or are “whipped”. There are moments, I must admit, where my hope is restored, but they are just ‘moments’ every once in a while. Maybe I’ve over indulged in Jane Austen recently and perhaps it is unrealistic of me to hope for the young men of Cardiff to all behave as Mr Darcy did. In many ways though, that’s not what I’m suggesting. In general, we should all - men and women alike improve our manners. It’s not just about men standing up for women on the bus, but about respect for other groups in society. It feels as though sometimes it is all lost. Perhaps we all need reeducating in the ways of good manners. As Virginia Woolf quite rightly put it: “I should remind you how much depends on you, and what an influence you can exert upon the future”. Let the future be full of gentlemen and a place where women re-discover their self respect.
Sport 26 - 27
Opinion09
The hiddden McCalories: Libby Van Den Bosche Opinion Editor
491 Calories in a Big Mac
295 Calories in a
cheeseburger
460
Calories in a portion of large chips
385 Calories in a crispy
505 Calories in a large Banana milkshake
chicken and bacon salad
Customers biting into their Big Macs may be left with a bitter taste when discovering the nutritional information glaring back at them from the packaging, informing them of the 491 calories and 15g of saturated fat that they are about to consume. Despite seeming like a salad dodger’s nightmare, this new initiative comes as a result of MacDonalds’ own consumer research, which revealed that 80% of customers wanted to see calories listed against menu items in restaurants. Along with McDonald's, chains such as KFC, Burger King and Pizza Hut have signed up for the labelling pledge, with the expectation that 5,000 further high-street food outlets will be documenting their nutritional information by the end of this year. It is hoped that this move will help to encourage more informed eating and combat the growing obesity crisis. In New York, calorie labelling in fast-food restaurants has been mandatory since 2007, but it is debatable to what extent it has changed eating habits for the better. A study carried out at lunchtime in 11 fast-food chains before and after the New York legislation came in has found that overall there was no reduction in the calorie intake of more than 8,000 customers. Thus, it might well be argued that having failed so dismally across the pond, it seems ludicrous to attempt to carry out a similar initiative in Britain. However, perhaps a part of what contributes to the pleasure of a fast food meal is that one is able to enjoy the taste without having been involved in the making process; there is no way of telling how much oil has been used to fry the chips, or how much sugar is in each milkshake. Although an element of pleasure
might be removed with the knowledge of the calorie content, forcing people to confront the implications of their lifestyle decisions must be considered a good thing, particularly when considering nearly a quarter of all British adults are overweight. This move will give people a greater awareness of exactly what they are putting in their mouths and then enable them act accordingly. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has supported this scheme, saying it would help fast-food fans "spot those hidden calories in their favourite foods and keep an eye on
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their waistlines". He added: "One in six meals are now eaten outside the home and for those meals we often have no idea how many calories we are eating." Indeed, many dieters might reject a burger in favour of a salad, assuming it to be the healthier choice. However, many people will be shocked to learn that a MacDonalds’ Caesar salad packs in an artery-clogging 21.4g of fat, making a cheeseburger seem positively saintly by comparison. There is nothing to stop anyone with the money or inclination heading to their nearest MacDonalds and ordering themselves a Big Tasty (805 calories). However, what this scheme will ensure is that, rather than passively eating what has been handed to them, consumers are forced to make an active lifestyle choice, whether it comes with a drizzle of dressing or deepfat fried and smothered in cheese.
News Politics Feature Science Societies Listings 20 1 - 6 Opinion 12 - 13 16 - 17 18 23 8-9
Monday September 26 2011
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gairrhydd
eptember is the month when reality strikes. The summer haze ends abruptly, real life resumes. It’s make or break time for summer romances (not that I’d know). It’s time to buy stationary and to reflect on your two months off. Whatever you do, don’t ask me if I’ve had a good summer. I had no summer. Summer didn’t turn up for its two month shift. Carnage is what happened, but not of the pub crawl type. The ‘summer’ of 2011 involved rioting, flooding, fairly average TV, the news that Spooks is to enter into its final series and the fall of Gadaffi. Some more significant than others – the Spooks news was indeed a bitter blow. Cher Lloyd also made it to number one: what is this world coming to? Can anyone speak properly anymore? Oh yes, Kate Middleton can! What’s that? She had lessons! So, August came. Thousands of young and illiterate youths began riots on the streets of England, making sure they had the latest trainers, TVs, and iPods. ‘Fair play, cos’ the world owes it to them, cos’ they’ve been forgotten by society,’ oh and ‘it’s cos the Government are charging like so much moneys for us to go to EWNIVERSITY now n all that, innit’. Ah right! So now that EWNIVERSITIES are charging more for students to study the subject they are supposed to be ‘passionate’ about,
the youth of today – those with no GCSE’s, are going to steal and loot from the people who work hard for their living, interesting. They’ve clearly never had to put together an essay in which you had to make a point, provide evidence and explain it in detail. That’s what you do at school: That place with teachers and rules. Then there was Gadaffi and his shades versus the ‘rebels’. I just wanted to give Gadaffi a slap. I think his best bet would be to go and hide with Mugabe until the American’s get their hands on them both. Due to the terrible weather, much of my ‘summer’ has been spent lounging in my pyjamas watching Sky News for days on ends. Sky’s Alex Crawford deserves a medal; she effectively led the rebels into Tripoli, braving a war zone just to report on the latest movements in Libya. I watched and couldn’t help feeling woefully inadequate as a human being. I get scared if I so much as hear a creak on the stairs, and there was Crawford, sitting on the back of a rebel truck casually reporting that there was much gun fire and that more attacks were likely. Geeeez! With self worth at an all time low, the BBC announced that the final series of Spooks was going to be aired in the autumn of this year. Talk about giving me nothing to live for! Then, when I did leave the house on perhaps one of the only days the sun actually came out: I burnt my
nose and it began to peel, which hindered my half hearted attempt at trying to bring to an end the long term situation I find myself in: being single. It’s gone on for a very long time now. My family fear the worst. I’ve heard them say “at the rate she’s going, she’ll still be here when she’s forty,” oh goodness, spinsterhood is looking more and more likely. But then, things began to look up! Oh thank heavens. There were some hard working young people, those that got their A Level results. God bless them all. They restored the nation’s hope and aspirations for the future: ‘We do have clever people in the country!’ we all cried. They battled to get their Ewniversity places, competition was fierce. They’ve all got an excellent bargain, or so the years below them say. I say you can’t put a price on getting drunk every night for three years, but who am I to judge? For all of you who went abroad for
Sport 26 - 27
Columnist11
the summer: congratulations, welcome back you clever, clever people. I bet you’ve all got a tan too. Don’t speak to me. And I don’t want to see your holiday photos. They’ll be all over Facebook no doubt, along with your status updates constantly telling me how crap it is to be home and how this time last week you were so totally off your face and it was just so hilarious. The gap year chaps are back home too. They have changed ethnicity since they left last year. You’re not really sure what they’ve done all year apart from spend a lot of time on social networking sites and they met some animals. Apparently, they saved the world, but I’m not so sure. They did all the cliché gap year experiences of course. Sorry what was that? You went to a Full Moon Party? Gosh you must be the only person I know who’s travelled across the globe to smother yourself in neon paint and g e t totally
“gazebo’ed”. All I have done this summer is mourn the end of my favourite television show and wish that I could 1 - look like Mila Kunis, and 2 - get a boyfriend, preferably Greg James but a little less tall. I sit in parks, alone, and wish that I could drastically look cool and edgy and wear the clothes that Urban Outfitters sell without looking like a total dick. I want to be able to look cool without trying. My life is just so tragic.
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Is it me? Am I just a hopeless case? Is there anyone that can help me in this melt down that just seems to get worse every week? Is it too late to start training to compete in the Olympics? Even I can run the 100m in fifteen seconds... Apparently, people used to bathe in milk to get my complexion, but all I want is a tan! Perhaps I should write to David Cameron and see if he would like to fund a holiday to the Bahamas for me next summer, to give me something to look forward to. He owes it to me. I work hard all year; it’s the least I deserve from the Government. Oh dear, oh dear. I’m hoping September will be a good month for me. I’m turning twenty, leaving my teen years behind me, growing up, maturing, and becoming a columnist. Life is good. Perhaps September will even see me out on the pull. “You are the hottest thing since sunburn” “do you have a map? I keep getting lost in your eyes” and those are just a sample of my simply great lines. You’ll smell me coming; I’ll be lathered up in fake tan, wish me luck.
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Politics
Sophie Gidley Political Editor
thought towards the consequences of their actions.
ith the images of rioting, looting, violence and general l aw l e s s n e s s still vivid in the public mind, the United Kingdom’s legal penal system has recently been dramatically called into question. Following the mass riots which saw violence break out in cities all over the country, beginning in the capital but spreading as far afield as Bristol and Liverpool, debates have arisen concerning the way in which the government aims to implement legal punishment in the future following such lawlessness. What was alarming, is that this violence, started by ordinary members of the public in an alleged act of retaliation against the Metropolitan Police, soon spiralled out of control into a violent free for all which saw the destruction of shops, homes and livelihoods, with no real agenda but to cause mindless criminal damage. In London alone, in which 22 out of the capital’s 32 boroughs were affected, the damage is estimated at £75 million. It was evident to see that UK law and order had failed our society. Some blamed the police for their mollifying approach. Others blamed the general public who raged rampant throughout the cities with no real
With statistics showing that 75% of those aged over 18 who were arrested had previous criminal records, and that 83% had previous contact with the police, is it clear that the most important issue now however, is not to blame but to ensure that the rate of offenders recommitting offences is addressed. The Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke, commented that a “broken penal system” was the cause of the riots in England as the prison system had failed to rehabilitate such a “feral underclass, cut off from everything but its materialism.” As highlighted by Mr Clarke, it has made Britain aware of its “appalling social deficits,” an issue that the coalition government must be quick to deal with. So how is this to be achieved? The riots alone and their statistics are merely a sole example to show that arrest as a deterrent is largely ineffective. Currently, UK law and order is based on the idea that the length of the sentence will solve the problem, however, this has been fiercely criticised. Although there have been other a l t e r n at ive proposals, in-
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Monday September 26 2011
cluding seriously reducing or even removing housing benefits and rights to social housing for the families of those who took part in the riots, there have been greater calls for a reform in the prison system. Rather than simply arresting those who commit criminal offences, it has been suggested that criminals are also offered a way out of their present situation. As the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith claimed, “all the criminal justice system is doing is arresting and re-arresting the same people for different crimes. Reoffending rates are ludicrous.”
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Instead, Mr Smith proposed that England has to become the “nation of the second chance” in which criminal offenders must be rehabilitated. Suggestions such as these argue that prisons should not merely be places to detain offenders for a certain period of time, but should also have a real interest in rehabilitating offenders. With Ministry of Justice data confirming that 75% of young people re-offend within a year of being released from prison, suggestions such as these seem a plausible direction to take. Greater education within the prison system would surely raise a greater understanding of the consequences of actions. Although classes are currently held for prisoners, these last little more than a couple of hours per week and in comparison to the total hours of imprisonment facing any individual offender, it is obvious that this is not enough. Punishment must be equal in severity to the crime committed, but to simply lock offenders away until they complete their sentence, merely seems to lead to contempt towards the system itself,
which thus revolves into situations such as the riots. London Mayor, Boris Johnson, is also a keen advocate of these suggestions. With more than 2,000 people arrested and more than 1,000 convicted in London alone following the riots, he has also urged that prisons must do everything that they can to help those convicted turn their lives around. Tim Goodwin, the acting commissioner for the Metropolitan police, believes however that greater responsibility must also lie with the wider community. “There has got to be a big debate in London in terms of how we empower local communities.” Certainly a strive for local justice and the means by which the fear of crime can be reduced cannot just sit with the police but also among the local community. If communities can form a cohesive front in reducing local crime then greater forces of power will not have to be so severe. As a result, ideas have been proposed that would see local members of the public coming forward from communities to sit as locals JPs. Whatever the actual solution, drastic changes need to be made. In total, the rioting cost taxpayers more than £133 million in policing and compensation for businesses hit by the violence. With the 2012 Olympics approaching ever closer, it is vital that any outbreaks of public violence and criminal disorder are dealt with efficiently and effectively, particularly as Britain will sit squarely in the world’s public eye. More importantly, it needs to be ensured that any violence or disorder does not have the chance to occur in the first place. The proposals for prison reform and offender rehabilitation certainly seem to be the most credible solutions.
Feature Science Societies Listings News Opinion 20 18 1-6 8-9 23 Politics 16 - 17 12 - 13
Monday September 26 2011
Sport 26 - 27
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Libya: The story so far...
Politics13
Luke Slade examines the eight months of violence that have swept through Libya
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ibyan rebels and government troops have been locked in fierce battle since February, following a popular uprising against Col Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule. It all began with protests against Gaddafi's regime and amplified into a bloody battle for territory between government and rebel forces in the west and east of the oil-rich country. The uprising, inspired by events in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt and precipitated by the arrest of a Libyan human rights campaigner, began in February. As authorities tried to contain the revolt many people were killed. Some of the biggest demonstrations were seen in the eastern port of Benghazi, which appeared to be the the centre of the unrest at the beginning and continued so. Thousands of foreigners tried to flee Libya, with several countries evacuating citizens. Libya, for all those who may not be aware, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya faces Egypt to the east, Sudan to the south east, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west. There are two entities claiming to be the governing authority in Libya. The institutions led by Gaddafi refer to the Libyan state as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The National Transitional Council (NTC), led by Mustafa Abdul Jalil, controls most of the country and uses the term Libyan Republic to refer to the state. At the end of February and the beginning of March rebels began to mobilise from their Benghazi base, with towns in the west falling to their forces for the first time. Government troops retaliated with
ground assaults and bombing raids. In the capital, anti-government protesters came under gunfire from pro-Gaddafi troops. An operation to evacuate hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals was launched as the international community showed its condemnation for the attacks on civilians. But Col Gaddafi continued to tighten his grip and mounted further attacks on rebelheld cities to both the west and east. There were gunfights in Brega, Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad, with the rebels succeeding in taking Ras Lanuf. In his rambling, yet undaunted speech, Col Gaddafi said he would "fight until the last man." A few days later pro-Gaddafi forces recouped the oil towns of Bin Jawad, Ras Lanuf and Brega. They were able to push rebels back along the coast using air strikes and helicopter gunships. Severe fighting later took place in Ajdabiya with loyalists launching bombing raids on the rebel base of Benghazi. In order to parry the assault, rebels deployed tanks, artillery and helicopters. By this time in western Libya, battles continued in Misrata and Zawiya, with Zawiya coming under control of government forces. The UN looked to initiate a resolution which led to Col Gaddafi's government declaring an independent ceasefire, regardless of this, his forces continued fighting. Soon after, the coalition launched air strikes against Libyan targets after government forces began a fierce attack on the eastern rebelheld city of Benghazi. The strikes also appeared to have halted the advance of the Libyan leader's. But Col Gaddafi remained obstinate. "We promise you a long, drawn-out war with no limits," he said in a phone call to Libyan state TV. "We will fight inch by inch."
Heading into April, air strikes were sent and hit key Libyan military targets, including positions in Misrata, Sirte, Brega, Ajdabiya and Tripoli, where Col Gaddafi's al-Aziziya compound was bombed. Fighting continued in the western towns of Zintan and Yafran and the situation in the assailed city of Misrata crumbled. Coming toward the end of April as battles continued in the east, the rebel-held western cities of Misrata and Zin-
tan continued to come under rocket attack from Col Gaddafi's forces. The fanatical shelling of Misrata became the focus of international concern, and boats began evacuating thousands of migrant workers trapped in the city. Nato countries finally offered military advice and equipment to aid the rebel forces. Meanwhile, a Nato air strike badly damaged buildings in Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli. Nato repeatedly hit Tripoli and other targets. Missiles hit Col Gaddafi's compound, with one attack killing one of his sons and three grandchildren. On the ground, rebels pushed government troops back from Misrata, but fighting continued in the east and west. In August, the Libyan government accused Nato of killing 85 civilians in an air strike near Zlitan, west of Misrata. Nato contested this, insisting it hit a military base. The problem was that with Nato being unable to achieve a stable air-space or rebel victory, many foresaw a stalemate. After months of little progress, a major onset by the rebels saw them push out of the Nafusa Mountains in the west towards the towns of the coastal plain, breaking the impasse. Amid fierce fighting, the rebels took control of Zawiya and Gharyan; the two strategic towns which control access to Tripoli. As the rebels continued to advance, Col Gaddafi appeared, declaring that he would not abandon Tripoli. On August 21st, rebels finally entered the
city taking a more overwhelming control. Intense fighting took place, culminating in the capture of Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound on August 23rd. The latest information we have, is that Interpol have issued red notices for the arrest of Col Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and his intelligence chief, Abdullah Al-Senussi, following a request by the international criminal court on September 8th. Niger, on September 9th, pledged to arrest the three wanted by the ICC if they crossed into its territory. However, it has been reported that more senior Gaddafi loyalists have managed to cross into Niger. Alex Warren, a Libyan expert, said the escape of Gaddafi's family members and his loyalists through the south of Libya illustrated how the area is largely out of Tripoli's control. There have been clashes between pro and antiGaddafi forces in Sirte and Bani Walid, two of the last places holding out against the rebel NTC. Gaddafi loyalists still in Libya have been given a deadline of tomorrow to surrender or face attack from the rebels. Nato bombed Bani Walid, Sirte, Waddan and Sabha on September 8th. It seems that tracking Gaddafi without the proper covering of the southern areas is what is going to prolong the whole process. That said, the NTC do have control of most of the country which is a positive step for the country.
Features
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Monday September 26 2011
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In this Features issue, Lucy Richardson tells us all about her unforgettable summer adventures…
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entral America. For the geographically retarded amongst us (me included), this does not in fact refer to the “middle bit” of the USA, but instead points to eight extraordinary countries located in between the USA and South America. For some, this part of the world may have little significance due to its relatively low-key reputation – a feature in itself that makes it all the more appealing. Whether it’s climbing active volcanoes, zip wiring over the jungle, surfing in the pacific or diving the world’s second largest barrier reef, this place caters for all. Travellers from across the globe are slowly discovering the wonders of this great part of the world, but being away from the usual “Gap Yah” circuit means Central America, with the exception of Costa Rica, manages to remain relatively untouched by tourism. The secret, however, is out amongst a small minority of well-travelled mid-twenty year olds. These backpackers are particularly in love with Guatemala and Nicaragua, where you can ride the waves, climb the volcanoes, soak up the culture and drink the local beers for outrageously cheap prices. Over on the Caribbean coast, the snorkelling and diving is unimaginable. However, if relaxing and frying in the sun is more appealing, then there are plenty of white sandy palm-fringed beaches to meet your needs. The Caye islands off Belize, offer some of the best snorkelling in the world, where manatees, hammerheads, nurse sharks, stingrays, turtles and an immense variety of fish roam the colourful reefs. Of course, being in the Caribbean, drinking is compulsory on these islands. Travellers soak up the Rastafarian culture with rum in one hand and tequila in the other, chilling to the reggae beats (and an uncanny number of Pitbull tracks), before finally passing out in a nearby hammock. If, unlike us, you time it right, you might even manage to catch the SunJam festival, taking place annually on a tiny uninhabited island off the coast of Honduras. During this two-day dance party, thousands of locals and travellers cram onto what is the smallest island you’ve ever seen and party in paradise – a mini full-moon party if
you like. Jump over to the opposite side to find the Pacific Ocean forming the western coast of Central America. Here the contrast is astonishing. Black beaches dominate this much more wild looking coastline, having been formed from the vast number of volcanoes in the area. The coast of El Salvador is the mother of Central American surf spots, so if riding the waves is your passion (or if you just fancy perving on some very pretty Australian surfers), then these tiny surf villages are definitely worth a visit. As can be imagined the travellers here are totally laid back so days are stress free and consist of a couple of hours surfing and a lot of lounging by the hostel swimming pool. Evenings are passed with drinking games and some hardcore surf chat. While it’s tempting to spend the summer gawking at fantastic beaches and lounging around in temperatures that double those of the UK, it cannot be ignored that the majority of Central America’s landscape consists of jungle and volcanoes and therefore getting inland is a must. Mayan ruins are in surplus in Central America, and while looking at old bits of rock might sound a little on the dull side, the ancient remains such as those of Tikal in Guatemala are astounding due to the sheer size of the place. The fact that a lot of these ruins are located deep within the jungle is also a bonus because unusual wildlife can be spotted en route and noisy howler monkeys can often be heard in the distance. If, however, you are more of an adrenaline junkie, then head down to the Costa Rican jungle to experience the rainforest in a more exhilarating way. Here you can zip wire over the jungle canopy and brave the ‘tarzan swing’ - a sort-of bungee jump from a great height. The rapids in this country also make for great whitewater rafting runs that range in difficulty and length and pass some spectacular sights that are inaccessible by road. Rafting was one of the highlights of the trip for us, and was definitely worth its rather painful price. Central America is a nature lovers’ paradise. Possessing relatively little knowledge about plant species myself and preferring to avoid any form of reptile/amphibian/insect at all costs, even I was able to appre-
ciate the large variety of plant and animal life in the area. The Costa Rican sloths are adorable, as are the monkeys, which are a common sighting across Central America, some even cheeky enough to steal bananas out of your hand! If you are extremely lucky you may be able to spot a jaguar, but being one of the hardest animals to locate, don’t get your hopes up too much. July/August is prime turtle season. During these months, guides offer to take visitors to the beach in the evenings to watch female turtles slowly struggle up the beach to lay their eggs, before covering them over with sand and returning back to the water. This whole process can be seen from standing less than a metre away and is undeniably a breathtaking experience. Many travellers also come to brush up on their Spanish skills, which are sometimes required for getting around in certain parts of the area. The numerous language schools throughout Central America offer a great variety of courses for both beginners and improvers. With the entirety of Central America being Spanish speaking, it is a fantastic place to put those skills into practice. A recurring sight of Central America is the astonishing number of volcanoes. As you can imagine, the views from the top of these are spectacular, making the tedious climb just about worth the pain! One of the many perks of climbing some of the active volcanoes ,is the opportunity to buy and toast marshmallows over the boiling hot cracks of the volcano surface. Nicaragua, on the other hand, offers a rather interesting alternative volcano experience. Here, the sport of ‘volcano-boarding’ is enjoyed by crazy backpackers, who climb to the top with a board in hand and ride their way down, often scraping
body parts on volcanic rock on their way. While Central America may not be the cheapest of backpacker destinations, the diversity available in such a small area allows it to become several holidays in one. By offering the many perks of South America in a significantly smaller land area, Central America serves as a great alternative for those with slightly less available time. Having travelled it in just seven weeks our-
selves, it was the perfect summer holiday destination. So whether you are a nature lover, an avid adventurer or a beach bum, Central America has got it all.
News Opinion Politics Science Societies Listings 20 1-6 8-9 12 - 13 Features 18 23 16 - 17
Monday September 26 2011
Sport 26 - 27
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17
And Ali Ishaq explains what he learnt whilst on his Summer Internship at a law firm...
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think I’ve just arrived at a realisation. Like most of my other realisations it is not, self-confessedly, profound. But a realisation – a revelation – nonetheless. This was A. Ishaq’s Blog. My Blog. I wrote for myself when I created my all new, CV Boosting, self-serving WordPress Account. I wrote abstractly, densely, about things that never really matter to any one in the real world. It was at this point that my attention was directed to the ‘Blog
Views’ link. I changed, Ladies and Gentlemen. That button changed me. I became a vulture, seeking prey with every line, every word that I wrote. It was terrible. Ok, I admit, it wasn’t that dramatic. But the fact is, that a great basis for my writing was focused on the idea that more and more people would read, and my views – inevitably - would surge. That is precisely what happened. The casual ‘Hey, could you please share this if you like it’ became a custom for me. By
the time I was fully in the swing, all this just went without saying. Long story short, my writing chutzpah has not been as it should have been. The impetus was misplaced. I wrote not entirely for myself. Mine became a readers Blog and not a writers one, as I had originally intended for it to be. Fortunately, the writers uroborous favoured me; I have come back to the point that I started from, as mentioned, with a fresh reality. Where I need to write for myself and not for views. Of course, views aren’t bad you know… So, now I sit in Dubai, interning for a Law firm. Today is my first day. I wore my only suit and a white tie. I am the only person in the Dubai international Financial Centre (DIFC) with a white tie. New dress shoes, new belt – loose, same old me. Point is, I’m here aren’t I? They showed me my desk. They gave me an e-mail ID. They gave me a phone AND they gave me a printer. JUST as I was about to say ‘This is professional, maaaaan!’, they gave me pages to punch and files to put them in. By the end of an hour, I had forgotten the password to my Laptop, finished the filing, finished reading – ok, skimming - their content and been unsuccessful in coming up with the correct password to their Wi-Fi network (I tried ‘WELOVELAW’, sadly that failed too). The only happening thing by then was the pretty lady, whose accent I couldn’t place, who came to give me the files and then to take them from me, (Just being professional here).
“ Did you do something interesting with your Summer? Let us know @GairRhyddFeat
Fortunately, I located the IT guy who explained to me that the keyboard was actually in Arabic. My thoughts: ‘What the…?!’. He taught me how to fix it though, Hence, this article. Things have been getting better though. The pretty lady whose accent I couldn’t place – remember her? – came and told me that I’d be going to court with them today. Carrying those big fat files that I had organised. Courteous
nod, non-womanising smile and a ‘no problem’ followed her statement (Just being professional, now). I’ve been free for the past two hours, though. My observations are such: (1) I am the only person with an Acer Ferrari Edition laptop which makes obnoxious grand prix car sounds when I touch it but works well, looks okay. Everyone else has a Macbook Pro. (2) There are more English women than any other gender/nationality here. But hey, who said that’s a bad thing? (3) I’m hungry, three people have said I should take my lunch break, but I am a brutal workaholic who knows not what food is (Secretly, I am planning to leave in 15 minutes to have Subway and Starbucks). (4) The only Arabic phrase I know is ‘Yallah Habibi’. I have faced the fact that that’s not Arabic. And finally, (5) That woman, oh my God….
“ Well, she’ll kill me if she reads this. But I am just being professional with my professional observations and comments. I feel satisfied now that I have finally peaked out of my political blogosphere and written something for myself which I wont ask people to share. Of course, sharing is caring… I think she just came back! Gotta shoot, ima be a Lawyer. P.S: Dear Lady, if you read this, please understand, I am just a hungry kid with a vacant mind. NOTE: Be advised that I did do a proper, through Internship! Thank you.
Science
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Monday September 26 2011
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America's gone EnvironMental Jenny Lambourne Science Editor
As the US presidential race gathers momentum, candidates and voters alike are preparing themselves for the gruelling 18 month campaign. The usual sparks of debate have ignited as the nominees face questions on their environmental beliefs and those by the majority of Republican candidates that are providing the fuel. Comments by Rick Perry’s declaration of climate change as a “hoax,” with his rival and fellow party member, Michelle Bachman, calling it “voodoo,” have flared up international debate and the world is now facing the prospect of one of the most powerful and influential nations having a climate change sceptic as its president. With Obama’s approval rating slipping, the possibility is now becoming realistic. Perry, currently Governor of Texas, is one of the majority of Republican candidates whose comments have raised both eyebrows and questions over his opinions on climate change. "I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects” he has said. “And I think we are seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists coming forward and questioning the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change." There clearly remains a debate centred upon the role of climate change, its impact and the courses of action which are required. Debate is healthy. Denial and stubborn refusal to acknowledge ever increasing scientific work is not. And it’s not as if the evidence is out of sight and therefore out of mind. Even as Perry skims over scientific evidence as an unsubstantiated theory, extreme weather is wreaking destruction across his own state with the worst drought since records begin in 1895. Whilst it would be misleading to connect climate change with specific weather events, scientists have long been establishing connections between long term changes and unpredictable and more extreme weather. As a recent report from the US Climate Change Science Program entitled “Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate” summarised: "With continued global warming, heat waves and heavy downpours are very likely to further increase in frequency and intensity. Substantial areas of North America are likely to have more frequent droughts of greater severity. Hurricane wind speeds, rainfall intensity, and storm surge levels are likely to increase. The strongest cold season storms are likely to become more frequent, with stronger winds and more extreme wave heights."
Freak storms and hurricane force winds are no longer the exception. Over the course of August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration categorised nine distinct disasters totalling the cost at $1bn or more, and by the end of 2011, they calculate the total cost to stand at more than $35bn. The figures were collaborated before the occurrence of Hurricane Irene. Despite this, media coverage of the influence and impact of climate change has dropped considerably. A global warming and sustainability survey conducted by Nielsen, found that only 48% of those asked considered climate change a source of concern. Understandably, it is hard to push forward with such concerns when the majority of politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, have sidelined green issues in favour of short-term advancements. The pressure for immediate action and consequently immediate results are forcing long-term investment in climate change policies to the bottom of the pile. And they are being forgotten.
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30, 649 million Kilotons ...of CO2 emissions were released worldwide in 2007
582.4 million
This “war on science” is not new. Yet since Perry’s comments questioning the integrity of climate change researchers, it has once again made a foray into political consciousness. He is backed by the comments of members of his own party, who continue to deny or question the role of human activity in climate change. They continue to do so in the face of 97% of active climate scientists united in the knowledge that humans contribute significantly to climate change. There is undeniably an increasing amount of climate change research being carried out with growing confidence. There are facts and figures, leading researchers, papers, reports and publications. And yet it is not enough. There is news of entire ice shelves disappearing and it is not enough. There are hurricane force winds at their own windows and drought across their land and the message is not getting through. The threat of a climate change
sceptic or denialist entering the White House remains however, uncertain. What is perhaps more certain, is that whoever ends up in the Oval Office, Democrat or Republican, is still unlikely to force the issue. The current balance of power in Congress, means that legislation to place restrictions upon carbon emissions is already less likely to be put through now than during the Bush junior presidency. There needs to be change. For changes in policy, there needs to be pressure upon candidates. Pressure requires awareness, knowledge than can occur only through education. The media here have a strong case to answer to. If something is not done there are serious problems that have to be faced and not just within the environment. Jon Huntsman, one of the few Republican candidates who has faced up to scientific reality, has voiced his concern over the political implications of such anti-climate change beliefs. “I think there’s a serious problem. The minute that the Republican Party becomes the party – the anti-science party, we have a huge problem. We lose a whole lot of people who would otherwise allow us to win the election in 2012. When we take a position that isn’t willing to embrace evolution, when we take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 of 100 climate scientists have said, what the National Academy of Science – Sciences has said about what is causing climate change and man’s contribution to it, I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science, and, therefore, in a losing position.” He’s right. Alienate science and alienate your party. Candidates, it is easy to look away at the figures of shrinking ice shelves, simple to distract yourself from the facts produced by climate researchers, yet not so easy to ignore when Hurricane Irene is blasting at your door and impossible when the human and economic toll is ever increasing. A lot can change before the presidential election. Having an anti-science party that is stubborn and petulant in the face of growing confidence is not beneficial for any nation, let alone one of the greatest in the world. The potential is terrifying.
The total, in tonnes of UK
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Carbon emissions
for the latest news and
in 2010
info on future articles.
20
Societies
Monday September 26 2011
gair
New experiences, old classics Isabelle Roberts Societies Editor
New…
Last week in gair rhydd we mentioned the Societies Fayre which is being held this week on September 26 and 27. This year, several new societies will be there, intermingled with the old, to try and seek your attention. If you’re interested in dance there is the new capoeira society. Sian Robson, President of the Capoeira Society, tells us more about it: “Capoeira is a Brazilian Art Form, combining elements of dance, martial art, acrobatics and music. It evolved from the struggle of African slaves against their oppressors … [it] benefits fitness, flexibility and rhythm but no pre-training is required.” I bet, before coming to Cardiff, most of you had never heard of capoeira. Why not give it a try? Classes are £4 and you can find out more at the Societies Fayre Training will held twice a week and there will be social activities too. Sian promises you will be “hooked on this amazing activity.” However, for something more domestic, perhaps the new Cooking Society is for you. I’m sure it is useful for both freshers and final year students alike! Anett Schwinkendorf, the founder of the new society, says she began the society because she wants to help people “develop their confidence in cooking meals for themselves and ditching the readymeals.” The society “welcomes every student who is interested in cooking no matter if they want to learn the very basics, extend their skills, get some new ideas, or just meet people that like to cook as well. We will hold cooking lessons, picnics or barbecues, trips to food festivals and more.” There are over 150 societies at Cardiff but also new this year is: the Accounting and Finance Society, Blank Verse, CITER SOC, Composition Performance Society, ComSci Society, Medicines and Pharmacology Society, Ocupational Therapy, Psychiatric Society and the String Orchestra. Look out for them at the Societies Fayre, intermingled with our usual eclectic mix of older societies from the Scientific Diving society to the LGBT+ society, the Green Society to the Vegetarian & Vegan Society, the Politics Society, the Ancient History society, the Christian Union, the Brass Band and the Broadway Dance Society among others.
…& Old One of the older societies is Act One. It’s also the biggest drama society, and if you are a budding thespian then this is the society for you. This summer “a crack team of elite Act One-ers,” according to society executive, Thomas Parry-Jones, took “the ultimate (meta)theatrical experience,” Writer's Block, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Actors and actresses Ellie Barrow, Elin Williams, Nat Bolding, Ben Atterbury and James Davies, came up with a play about writing a play. In the humorous description it is called “a light-hearted comedy following the lives of five struggling artists. Whether writing or acting, these artists struggle with creative expression and ... we can’t think of anything more to write...” and achieved success in Edinburgh from 22 to the 28 August. According to reviewer Joanna Hilton “Cardiff University students bring lots of energy and wit to this original script, which plays so naturally that, at times, you feel you may be in it. As it develops you begin to wonder where it's going to go and how it'll conclude, but the clever ending takes you a little by surprise. Great to see new and original writing from an enthusiastic end energetic cast.” As a consequence of this success the Act One committee have now launched a new programme to fund further touring productions – with a focus on Edinburgh. This year promises to be just as good. The seven main productions this year are: Disco Inferno, King Arthur and the lads of the Round Table (a pantomime), King Lear, Measure for Measure, Monstrous Regiment, Night of the Hunter and White Crow. Anyone familiar with the book or film Night of the Hunter, including me, will surely look forward to seeing how that is produced for the first time ever on stage! Auditions for these productions are being held from Monday 10 - Thursday 13 October in The Main Building. There will also be a meeting for students who want to be part of the crew (keep your eyes peeled for information!) and the usual smaller productions throughout the year if one of the main productions is not for you.
Mon-Tue 26 & 27 September Societies Fayre
Sign up to societies in the Great Hall 10am - 5pm
Wed-Fri 28, 29 & 30 September Pole Dancing Taster Sessions
Cathays Community Centre 36-38 Cathays Terrace 3pm - 4pm
Fri 30 September Snowsports - Social
CF10 Eve
Mon 3 October
RAG - 5 Legged Pub Crawl
Starting in the TV Lounge, Union 8pm
Wed 5 October
English Lit Society - Bike Ride to Castell Coch From Main Building Car Park 2pm
Thur 13 October
Northern Society - Social Meet in The Woodville Eve
Mon 14 November
People & Planet - 1.4 Billion Reasons Talk
In Main Building 7.30pm
Fri-Sat 25 & 26 November
Brass Band Workshop University Concert Hall
If you would like to join a Society, or see a full list of opportunities, visit: http://groups.cardiffstudents.com/societies/home
22
Listings
Monday September 26 2011
gairrhydd
CYNT ond day, it's not too late to join the Harry Potter Society!
With Mord Fustang headlining it looks
in our national language!)
Fun Factory is an absolute institution
r e h Ot s to e c a l p try!
IV Lounge, Neuadd Meirionydd, Ifor Bach, 11 Womanby Street
For the most hardcore clubbers out
looks set to include the latest tunes
Relax! You made it through Freshers 2011!
Puzzles
Monday September 26 2011
INTERMEDIATE
sudoku.
24
CHALLENGING
Change the word at the top of the ladder into the word at the bottom, using only the four rungs in between. On each rung, you must put a valid four-letter word that is identical to the word above it, apart from a oneletter change. There are a few ways of doing this!
CAT
DOG
word wheel.
How many words of three or more letters, each including the letter at the centre of the wheel, can you make from this diagram? We've found 20, including one nine-letter word. Can you do better?
WARM
A N
COLD
word ladder. INTERMEDIATE
R O D
S E
G U CHALLENGING
answers.
EASY
gairrhydd
-dangerous -groaned -gardens -grounds -sugared -undergo -dangers -dragons -dragon -dragon -danger -dosage -nudges
-grades -aroused -drags -urged -drugs -dregs -roads -sounds -under -gods -sand -red -due
word wheel. Cat > cot > dot > Dog Warm > ward > card > cord > Cold
word ladder.
Sport
26
Monday September 26 2011
gairrhydd sport@gairrhydd.com
Farah and Greene shine in Daegu Zac Cole looks back at the 2012 World Athletics Championships The last week of August and first of September saw Daegu, South Korea, play host to the 2011 IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) World Championship. The largest athletics competition ahead of London 2012 saw all the big names stepping into their stride with a few clues given ahead of next summer's Olympics. The USA topped the medals table with an impressive 25, six more than second place Russia’s 19, whilst Kenya, Jamaica and Germany completed the table’s top five. Great Britain came in a respectable sixth place, with Mo Farah and Dai Greene starring. The track events were more or less dominated by the USA, Kenya and Jamaica, which was far from a surprise given these nations fantastic record at World Championships. The long distance and middle distance races were where Kenya looked to assert its traditional supremacy. Kenya’s Kiplegat, Jeptoo and Cherop, earned a clean sweep in the marathon, taking gold, silver and bronze respectively. The Kenyans also romped to an impressive 3000m steeplechase win, whilst Asbel Kiprop earned his first world championship gold in the 1500m. Kenya's rising star, David Lekuta Rudisha took the 800m gold with a commanding run, leading the pack from start to finish. However, Kenya did not dominate all the long distance races. One of Britain’s principal medal hopes for 2012, Mo Farah, took silver in the 10,000m,and then stormed to a 5000m gold. Farah was pushed right to the last 50m, where an impressive turn of foot saw him clinch the win.
“
Mo Farah stormed to 10,000m gold with an impressive turn of foot
Jamaica and the USA were near unstoppable forces in all the sprint events, bar the hurdles, one of the two earning silver or gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m and relay sprints. After dramatically being disqualified after a false start in the 100m
final, the fastest-man-on-earth, Usain Bolt, became the first man to successfully defend a 200m World Championship title. Despite being the last out of the blocks, he lead the field from the bend onwards to comfortably take gold. Despite Bolt's absence, Jamaica also took the 100m gold with Yohan Blake having the edge on the USA hopeful, Walter Dix. Bolt's disqualification though raised debate as to the new rules on false starts with runners given no second chance. Jamaica also took the 4x100m relay title in a world record time, but their women’s 4x100m team were beaten by a very strong looking USA, who also claimed gold in the 4x400m. When it came to hurdles it was a British man’s turn to stand on the podium. With an impressive and tactically perfect run, Dai Greene, earned Great Britain its first gold of the Championship in the 400m hurdles. The Welshman was behind the leaders coming up to the final hurdle but a last second push saw him overtake the competition in the sprint to the finish.
“
Dai Greene earned Britain's first gold with an impressive and tactically perfect run
Elsewhere, in the 110m hurdles, the disqualification of Dayron Robles for impeding Lui Xaing, saw Britain’s Andrew Turner bumped up from fourth into bronze medal position and providing an unexpected medal for Great Britain. In the women’s 100m hurdles Australia’s Sally Pearson, claimed her first World Championship title with an incredibly fast run of 12.28 seconds, blitzing past the competition. Unfortunately, it was with Greene and Farah that British Gold Medals stopped. Heptathlete Jessica Ennis, and Phillip Idowu, who attempted to defend his triple jump title, were both two of our main hopefuls for golds in Daegu, but both were beaten into
gold medal positions. Disappointingly, both athletes put in performances below their high standards but both will undoubtedly be there, or there abouts, next summer.
“
Despite their disappointing performances both Ennis and Idowu will be there or there abouts next summer
Field event contests were far more open than those of the track, but ultimately Russia and Germany earned the most medals. Daegu witnessed some fantastic battles for field event golds, the most notable were that of the women’s high jump and men’s pole vault. In the pole-vault, Pawel Wojciechowski and Cuban Lazaro Borges fought up until the last jump, with the Polish athlete taking gold. Similarly, the women’s high jump was also contested right to the end, between the Russian, Anna Chicherova , and the Croatian, Blanka Vlasic. The Russian eventually had the edge and claimed the gold but the Croatian put in a season’s best in her effort for the title. This Championship in Daegu has looked as if it might provide an important insight into how the Olympics might play out this coming summer. Optimistically, the British medal hopefuls either won their events or put in performances worthy of silver, a good sign for Britain entering into 2012. Britain can also expect medals to come from events outside the strictly track and field events showcased at Daegu, such as cycling, rowing and in diving, thanks to the young star Tom Daley. However, when it comes to the sprint events and the long distance running, (with the exception of Mo Farah), it looks as if no nation has the talent to force its way into contention alongside the powerhouse nations of Kenya, USA and Jamaica.
News Opinion Politics Feature Science Societies Listings 20 1-6 8-9 12 - 13 16 - 17 18 23
Monday September 26 2011
Sport 26 - 27
Sport27
gairrhydd
World Cup to go down under Jamie Evans previews the top tournament in rugby
Who will win the World Cup? Your views...
I would love England to bring home the win, but I think it will stay with the hosts in New Zealand. They have the home advantage, and always seem to pull out a flawless performance on the big stage, recent World Cups aside.
I
t has been 24 long years since rugby’s greatest prize was last fought for on New Zealand soil; the victors in 1987 were of course the gallant hosts. But since 1987, the Kiwis have suffered nothing but heartbreak every four years since, and haven’t been able to repeat that fateful day Auckland cheered home its domicile heroes. They had the weight of a nation on their shoulders in 1987, and now in 2011 where they play hosts again, they go into their opening game with Tonga, as overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy that has eluded them these past 24 years. The man whose task it is to lead the All Blacks to glory, is of course none other than former Wales head honcho, Graham Henry. They may have been labelled ‘chokers’ by the rugby world, but Henry is confident that they can finally put that label to bed now that they’re back on home soil, "This team will do everything they can to do the business, I can assure people of that. We’re really looking forward to playing in front of our own people." After the tragedies that have struck the island this year, I don’t think anyone would begrudge them a victorious World Cup, home nation biases aside. If New Zealand are to climb the stairway to rugby heaven, they’ll have to overcome a whole host of nations who are chomping at the bit to prove that the tournament isn’t a formality for the All Blacks. Their rivals seem to be Australia, who are in buoyant mood after claiming the Tri Nations for the third time last month, defeating New Zealand 25:20 in the deciding game in Brisbane. They also have the most exciting half back partnership in world rugby in the shape of Will Genia and Quade Cooper; if Dan Carter is New Zealand’s mercurial playmaker, then Quade Cooper is his Australian counterpart. They also have a wealth of promising talent in the back line, such as Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale and
the prodigious James O’Connor. And under the leadership of lock and newly appointed captain James Horwill, Robbie Deans side go into the tournament as slight underdogs and my tip to, come away from the tournament as champions. Even if New Zealand do show up and give a solid showing, the Wallabies may have too much behind the pack for the Kiwis, although I wouldn’t like to tell Ma’a Nonu or Sonny Bill Williams that face-to-face. Incumbent champions South Africa, will begin their campaign with their most experienced side ever, or oldest, depending on your disposition, and are in Wales’s Pool, the pool that has been dubbed, ‘the pool of death’, which has physicality coming out of every orifice as Samoa, Fiji and Namibia make up the numbers. Wales will have to come out of the group stage without too many battle scars if they are to progress further than the quarter final for just the second time in the nation’s history. The last time they did that, also happened to be in New Zealand in 1987. Warren Gatland’s side seem to be peaking at the right time, they beat both England and Argentina in their warm-up games and their defence looks as solid as it has been since 2008. Sam Warburton at the tender age of 22 will become the youngest ever captain to lead a nation at the World Cup, and hopefully with other youngsters Rhys Priestland, Tavis Knoyle, George North and Toby Falatau, youth will overcome experience when they take on the Springboks as their tournament gets underway in Wellington on the 11. Cardiff University will be proudly represented by Wales’s big ball carrying centre and Cardiff medicine student, Jamie Roberts, or Quagmire to his friends. I don’t think I’m alone in hoping Jamie has a fantastic tournament with Wales and fulfils the potential he showed on the last Lions tour. If Wales can record a victory in their opening tie, then they’ll surely be on a great platform for the rest of
the group games and will look to finish top of pool D. The same could be said for England, despite their warm up games not going quite to plan, especially losing captain, Lewis Moody against Wales, they finished off their pre-tournament series with a resounding win over an Ireland side, who unlike Wales and England had a catastrophic warm-up series. If England hit the ground running against Argentina, then they’ll be in a very good position to top their group and look to emulate their heroics of 2003, they have the knack to be ever dangerous when world cup time comes around. The home nations will need to keep key players fit if they’re to break the dominance of the southern hemisphere sides, especially the likes of Australia and New Zealand. This is more pertinent for Scotland and the Irish, who without the likes of Brian O’Driscoll and Chris Paterson, may find the intensity hard going against the more physical defences. Scotland will have to master the art of crossing the gain line and the try line, if they’re to even get out of the group stage, albeit their warm up games did show promising signs that tries are within their grasp. An ageing Ireland side, who have been dismal in recent games, may even find their opening game with the USA to be tricky and unfortunately, they don’t look like they have the criteria to challenge in New Zealand. Some things are certainties; we’ll be treated to seven weeks of enthralling rugby with the best players in the world all on show,. England will look to their messiah, St Jonny, to help them progress, the French will cause an upset or two, Sonny Bill Williams will make a full grown man cry and Brian Moore will look like Bill McLaren compared to ITV’s undoubtedly terrible commentary.
The World Cup should have the All Blacks' name written all over it. They've underperformed at the highest stage for too long now, but considering it’s on home soil, I just can’t see them bottling it again. However, as a Welsh fan, I must admit that England are always a danger and can’t be written off.
It’s the All Black’s to lose. The pressure on home soil will be immense though which leads me elsewhere. I fancy Australia to take home the trophy despite their loss to Ireland and can see them repeating their Trinations success in Auckland on October 23rd.
New Zealand will crumble at the mounting pressure they will experience by the time they reach the semis against RSA; England will edge it past Australia in the other semi. This will leave us with a rematch of the 2007 final; England will take their revenge over the Springboks.
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