gair rhydd - Issue 991

gair rhydd Monday November 19th 2012 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 991

Ministry of Change vote against No Platform policy Motions put forward in first forum meetings: Call for a No Platform policy for fascists and racists across all student media: REJECTED Fly the Welsh flag and Union Jack from the roof of the Students’ Union: REFERENDUM Put up a bus shelter outside the Union for students waiting for the University Hall bus: APPROVED

p4 >>

Opinion look at the state of rap in the modern p11 day

Cardiff researchers receive award for research into p18 schizophrenia

Cardiff Jiu Jitsu go to Nationals

p34

2 / Editor’s Note

gr

George Entwistle leaves the BBC as Director-General for the final time as another week of turmoil begins for the company since the Jimmy Savile scandal first broke.

News 4–8 Opinion 9–11 Politics 14–16 Science 18–21 Societies 25–27 Taf-Od 28–29 Puzzles 30 Listings 31 Sport 33–36

EDITOR Chris Williams CO-ORDINATOR Elaine Morgan CREATIVE DIRECTOR Luke Slade

A note from the editor...

O

COLUMNIST Katie Bennett

ne of the best things about this job is the people that you meet and interact with on a day-to-day basis.

The passion of Xpress was mentioned in my column last week, but this week I feel proud of the whole student media team and pleased that I work with people who hold such passion.

The Ministry of Change held their first forums with the agenda filled with ideas submitted by students on the Cardiff SU website.

It was tense, to say the least.

Two of the policies directly fell within my remit and directly

POLITICS Thom Hollick Rachel Lewis

gair rhydd would like to thank the following for their articles and help in making this issue:

SUB-EDITOR Tom Parry-Jones NEWS Kendal Archer Tom Eden Bethan Jones Anna Hickman OPINION Alice Briggs Nick Evans Alex Greig

SCIENCE Alexey Underwood Rhiannon Davies SOCIETIES Vanessa Platt LISTINGS Lowri Martinson TAF-OD Tomos Lewis SPORT Position vacant Viktor Tsvetanov James Shapland GAIR RHYDD AND QUENCH MAGAZINE ARE PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY UNION $"3%*'' 1"3, 1-"$& $"3%*'' $' 2/ t REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER AT THE POST 0''*$& t ("*3 3):%% 3&4&37&4 5)& 3*()5 50 &%*5 "-- $0/53*#65*0/4 t 5)& 7*&84 EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE 0' 5)& 16#-*4)&34 t ("*3 3):%% *4 83*5 TEN, DESIGNED, TYPESET AND OUTPUT BY STUDENTS OF CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

Contributors Abbi Tanton, Megan Heffey Amy Endacott, Ellie Woodruff Tom Tengerly-Evans Beth Gregory, Greg Landon Clinton Koola, Chris McSweeney Ashley Bebbington Rachel Victoria Lewis Jacob Dirnhuber, Fatima Taqvi Michael O'Connell-Davidson David Mason, Alice Schweitzer Khadija Jamal, Amber Wheatley Katherine Holmes, Cerith Rhys Jones Dewi Preece, Will Jones Katherine Willis Proof Readers Ravan Whittington Jacob Dirnhuber Emilia Ignaciuk Michael O'Connell-Davidson Anne Porter

questioned two very important parts of my job role. The best part about the new student council structure, however, is that these questions can be asked.

In fact, it's not just that these questions can be asked, but that real change can be affected immediately - without the need for processses or procedures which get in the way.

The debate, in the end, was a good one and it was only with the support of the rest of the student media team that we all got through it. With so many people in the room supporting me and against the ideas put forward, it was a great place to debate and even better to know that the student media team are there for stu-

dent media.

Gone are the days where sections stay apart from each other and work for themselves. It was great to see so many people there, ready and prepared to give up their time for a common cause.

And with all that over, the focus is turned to SYLOW. An idea we had in summer was that we'd move what was refreshers to November and rebrand it.

Personally, I think the rebranding looks amazing and the idea is pretty solid.

Punctuated by the NUS demo, it makes for a very interesting week.

The demo story in this weeks paper appears to be pretty negative - but we only write it to im-

plore people to go.

The students have voted for it, so I'm 100% behind the demo and having spoken to Liam Burns, I'm convinced that it's the right thing to do. It may not have an immediate effect and there may not be a direct policy or person that we're demonstrating against (something which is not an easy thing to comprehend) but there is an ultimate aim: keep it on the agenda.

To sit back and say nothing is to allow them to win, to allow the government to push through cuts and keep fees at an extortionate ÂŁ9,000.

The NUS demo is the perfect opportunity for students to get their voices heard and for people to take a stand.

Want to help make the paper?

Date of next meetings: Monday, November 19th: CF1o, 5pm (1st floor of the SU) Monday, November 26th: Aneurin Bevan, 5pm (4th floor of the SU)

Proofreaders wanted!

Got a keen eye for grammar?

Or just enjoy free pizza on Thursday nights?

Come up to the office every Thursday for free pizza and proofing.

3

Monday November 19th 2012 | @mediacsu

News in brief Pork pie causes dislocated shoulder A judge in Plymouth has labelled supermarket trolleys as "unsafe" after a pensioner was injured in a freak accident when attempting to reach a pork pie.

Mrs Jean Palfrey, 79, broke both

arms and dislocated a shoulder as she tripped after failing to notice the offending trolley as she reached down to make her purchase.

Words by Michael O'Connell-Davidson and Jacob Dirnhuber

On trial for feeding horse A man in Glasgow is standing trial for trying to force feed sausage rolls to police horses.

Francis Kelly is accused of giving the horses sausage rolls in September of this year.

Doing good deeds US voter ‘comes dressed as a giraffe back to life’ to cast A man in Glasgow has been vote in elections sighted dressed as a giraffe while undertaking good deeds, including handing water to marathon runners and £10 vouchers to hospital patients. Busking to raise funds, Armstrong Bailie spoke to the BBC, claiming 'Giraffes are like me, as my head is in the clouds but my heart is in the right place.'

A man in South Africa has been arrested at Johannesburg airport after attempting to smuggle 220 diamonds into South Africa, having swallowed them.

Officials, who scanned his body, revealed the diamonds were worth £1.4 million. It is believed the man is part of a smuggling ring.

In this weeks issue...

After the destrcution of Sandy, Science ask: Is global warming to blame for hurricanes? p18

Opinion look at the 'soap opera' of the American election as Obama returns to the White House for a second term p9

NUS are giving £100,000 towards a student project. Turn to News on page 5 for more.

As problems at the BBC continue, the Director-General, George Entwistle resigns. Politics finds out more on p15

Cardiff Cobras beat Exeter Demons 20– 15 in their opening BUCS American football fixture p34

For the best in culture, fashion and features head to cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/quench

4 / News

Students empowered

by Ministry of Change Bethan Jones News Editor

The democratic structures of the Union were put to the test last week during the University’s Ministry of Change Forums.

A ‘No Platform’ policy for gair rhydd and the prices of fruit juice in comparison to the cost of alcohol in The Taf were all discussed within the new forum structure.

Among other conclusions drawn, the Community Forum resulted in a referendum concerning the idea of hanging a Welsh flag from the top of the Union building.

The Ministry of Change has three Forums to discuss ideas put forward by students: the University, the Union and the Community Forum. Of the four ideas discussed in the University Forum, each one passed.

However, ideas for the Union forum were less successful, with six of the 11 policies put forward failing to be passed. In the Community Forum, three of the four ideas were passed, and one resulted in a referendum.

In a packed room – filled to the brim with media students – Cardiff Student Media managed to successfully quash two motions against them.

The first, in reference to a ‘No Platform’ policy for racists and fascists was hotly contested off the back of issue 989 of gair rhydd, which depicted Nick Griffin on the cover. The idea for the ‘No Platform’ policy was put forward to question whether student newspapers should have the potential to provide platforms for controversial figures and ideas.

After heated debate, the Ministry of Change unanimously voted against implementing such a policy, agreeing that all student media and elections must continue to provide an unbiased view regarding potentially contentious issues.

Chris Williams, Head of Student Media, spoke about the growing concern around imple-

The Union Forum For all issues concerning the Students' Union

The Community Forum For all issues concerning the local community

The University Forum For all issues concerning Cardiff University menting a ‘No Platform’ policy, questioning whether censorship on a newspaper such as gair rhydd could result in a the policy spiraling out of control, and censorship occurring in other areas of the Union as well.

In the second unanimous vote in favour of Student Media, an idea that asked for gair rhydd to become a fortnightly publication and Quench a monthly publication, was put under scrutiny. Lau-

ra Evans, editor of Quench, raised points about the quality of the new style of Quench, as well as the many benefits that being part of Student Media offers potential journalists to gain experience.

In a pleasing result for Cardiff Student Media, no changes were made to the weekly and fortnightly releases of both gair rhydd and Quench.

Another contentious issue discussed at the Ministry of Change

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forum concerned the price of alcohol in The Taf in comparison to the price of soft drinks, specifically fruit juice. It was noted by a student on the Ministry of Change ‘Latest Ideas’ page that a pint of fruit juice in The Taf is priced at £2, whereas the cheapest pint is priced at £1.69. Questions were raised about whether it is wrong to serve alcohol at a cheaper price than fruit juice.

However, the Ministry of Change voted against the idea to make fruit juice cheaper, taking into account the implications this could have on alcohol prices increasing at The Taf. It was felt by members of the Ministry of Change that increasing alcohol prices could result in The Taf decreasing in popularity with students.

In the Community Forum, an issue surrounding Fair Trade products in the Union failed to pass. One student had posted an idea suggesting all food and drink in the Union should be Fair Trade; however, the Ministry of Change decided not to pass this idea because they felt it was not practical to make the Students’ Union serve food and drink that is solely Fair Trade.

During the Community Forum, an idea was raised about flying a Welsh flag and Union Jack flag from the top of the Students’ Union. Heavily debated by the Ministry of Change, it was felt by some that the flags would be a great tribute to Cardiff University, as it is the largest instiution in Wales.

However, others at the Forum felt the flags would promote nationalism, and could have the potential to alienate international students. The issue, which did not have a majority vote, eventually went to a referendum; there needs to be a 75 per cent vote in favour of an idea for it to be passed, and in this case, five people voted for, two voted against and one person abstained from

voting, meaning that 28.5 per cent of people at the forum voted against.

The referendum will involve a whole student population vote, which will take place on cardiffstudents.com.

AU President, Cari Davies said, “It's unfortunate that this has gone to referendum as there are more important issues to debate”.

However, Students’ Union President Harry Newman commented, “There are strong arguments for and strong arguments against – it should be a good debate”.

It’s unfortunate that this has gone to referendum as there are more important issues to debate Kieran Gandhi, Union Development and Internal Affairs Elected Officer, said, “The Ministry of Change has kicked off this year, already bringing forward more motions than were submitted throughout the whole of last year! With some fierce debate, great discussion and defining decisions, this year’s Ministry of Change has serious potential to shake up how we make decisions at the Union.”

The Ministry of Change was designed with the intention of representing the wider student population by encouraging students to post on the ‘Latest Ideas’ page online, via the website cardiffstudents.com. Students are also able to get involved with the forums and have the ability to vote in the meetings by signing up to be selected at random, and invited to the meetings.

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5

News 4–8

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddnews

Poor ticket sales for NUS march Kendal Archer News Editor

Cardiff Students’ Union has sold a total of eight tickets for the forthcoming NUS march, and 16 more will be given for free to elected officers.

However, it is likely that questions will be raised as to whether we actually reached quoracy or not – quoracy indicating the minimum number of people who must vote in favour of the motion in order for the Union to be mandated to do what the motion states. If the vote did not reach quoracy, the Union has no obligation to be involved.

Though 83 students (a mere 0.33 per cent of Cardiff University’s student population) voted in favour of attending the march, this number has not been reflected in ticket sales.

Indeed, the Union will more than likely have to rearrange the transport that has been organised for the event, because only one vehicle will now be needed to transport the small number of campaigning students.

Despite this, the demonstrations have been given full backing by the 16 elected officers, who believe it is important for Cardiff's students to be involved

in the march, the aim of which is improvement in education for students.

Welfare and Community Officer, Megan David, said of the march, “it is a huge way to say we are not giving up.”

Education and University Affairs Officer, Beth Button, added, “Its about making noise and keeping education on the radar.”

The demonstration is set to go ahead on Wednesday 21st November and will involve a march

through central London. This year, however, the route will be different to that of the NUS march in 2012, due to the riots that took place at the Conservative Party headquarters at Millbank. The area will be avoided

Applications are to be received by December, followed by a training day held on January 16th, 2013. A selection of these applicants will then be invited to pitch their ideas to the experts in March 2013. Those who impress the panel will receive a piece of the £100,000 fund and receive on-going mentoring as they establish their new business or enterprise.

Previously funded ideas include the ‘iCYCLE’ bicycle recycling scheme at Manchester Metropolitan Union, which aims to improve the cycling experience of staff and students at the University. The funding has helped build a fleet of over 50 new and refurbished bicycles along with a hiring and repair service.

Matt Robinson, Chief Executive of the Union, has spoken of the projects success and says that revenue is continuing to grow thanks to the help of the scheme.

It is sustainable businesses such as this that the Innovation and Social Enterprise Academy seek to support.

Rachael Mattey, Chair of NUS Services, also speaks highly of the Academy’s new scheme, say-

ing: “the project has been so successful in the last few years that we have expanded it to try and reach even more student entrepreneurs”.

Mattey is keen to insist that anyone who has an idea should

pitch it to their students’ union, and encourages them to apply for a portion of the £100,000 fund.

The scheme welcomes a variety of ideas such as eco-projects, letting agents and various retail ventures along with any other

to prevent such violence being repeated.

It will coincide with Prime Minister’s Questions, in the hope that maximum impact upon policy makers and the press will be made.

The three areas the demonstrators wish to address are education, in particular funding for a tertiary educations system; employment, notably the desire for sustainable jobs; and empowerment, whereby the government answers for its previously misleading statements about education funding.

Hence, the Union believes that it is important for students to get involved with the demonstration.

NUS President, Liam Burns said, “tuition fees have trebled after Parliament promised not to raise them.

“There is inherent instability in cross-border flow of students which has implications for all students in Cardiff.”

He concluded, “It’s the right thing to do now. We need to put across a clear message to parties of all colours.”

NUS provides £100,000 to fund student projects Abbi Tanton News Writer

The National Union of Students (NUS) has recently announced the launch of a new scheme giving students’ unions the chance to receive a portion of a £100,000 pot to fund new projects within their universities.

The scheme has been developed by the NUS’ Innovation and Social Enterprise Academy, which has already been providing funding for further and higher education students’ unions for the past two years.

The project works on a Dragons’ Denstyle basis and applicants must present their ideas to a panel of industry experts The project works on a Dragons' Den-style basis and applicants must present their ideas for a social enterprise or business to a panel of industry experts.

imaginative proposals students can think of.

Any applicants who may have a potential idea must present them to the Innovation and Social Enterprise Academy by Monday, December 17th.

6 / News

Cardiff Law School to tackle WRU problems Megan Heffey News Writer

Cardiff Law School has teamed up with the Welsh Rugby Union to launch a new scheme designed to solve legal dilemmas. The recently established pro-bono scheme will see current undergraduate law students providing legal advice to WRU member clubs below the semi-professional level of the Principality Premiership Division.

The scheme is running under the supervision of leading legal professionals from Cardiff based Civitas Chambers and Hugh James, a top UK law firm, who will give final approval to all advice distributed by the undergraduate legal body.

The value of this scheme in enabling the participating undergraduate students to obtain experience of giving legal advice in the real world has not been overlooked. Julie Price, the Director of Engagement and Employability at Cardiff Law School commented: “We are pleased to have this new scheme in our portfolio of Law in the Real World opportunities

for our students, and we are looking forward to working with the WRU and its member clubs. Our other “pro-bono” schemes have a social justice focus, but the “Law in Sport” WRU scheme gives our students the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a wider business and commercial context.”

Affairs at the WRU, Rhodri Lewis, has spoken of his enthusiasm about the new project, and recognises the financial benefits of the scheme, noting that it “empowers club officials to seek that advice in the knowledge that they will

not be incurring costs.”

If you are a member of an amateur Welsh rugby team seeking legal advice, email your questions in English to intouch@cardiff. ac.uk or in Welsh to camsefyll@ caerdydd.ac.uk, call 02920876705,

or submit your query by post to WRU/Cardiff Law School Pro Bono Team, Cardiff Law School, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX.

The scheme gives our students the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a wider business and commercial context As well as providing a bilingual service of specialist legal advice in response to specific queries, the scheme will involve the distribution of a regular newsletter to all Welsh amateur clubs offering advice on standard issues, encouraging teams to address basic problems before they become legal questions. The Head of Legal

Cardiff Castle hosts charity journey Anna Hickman News Editor

On Monday, November 12th, The One Show filmed the arrival of six youngsters taking part in the “The Rickshaw Challenge” at Cardiff Castle.

The challenge involves pedalling from Llandudno in North Wales to the BBC Television Centre in London, covering a distance of 411 miles and will raise money for Children in Need. Cardiff Castle played host to the team on the fourth day of the challenge

as they travelled to London.

Presenters Alex Jones and Matt Baker broadcast live from the castle, with special guests Joe Pasquale and Pudsey Bear.

Matt Baker spoke of his own previous experience of the challenge, saying: "It is one of the

toughest challenges I’ve ever taken on. These youngsters are going to have their work cut out for them. That’s why the public needs to get behind ‘Team Rickshaw’ and come out to cheer them on. I know from the challenge last year what a difference the public’s support can make.

We need to get behind them as they strive to raise as much money as possible for BBC Children in Need."

It's been hard, because of the immense distances, but we've pulled though as a team Cardiff University’s Xpress Radio was able to speak to one of the young people Ciaran, 17, from Port Talbot, who was born with cerebral palsy. When Xpress Radio’s Aaron James asked him about the experience, Ciaran said: “It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s a great challenge and the young people involved with it have great stories and really get on well together. It’s been a fantastic experience.

“It has been hard, because of the immense distances we have been travelling, but we’ve pulled through as a team and overcome the challenges. We’ve played to

the strengths of each individual to get to this point, which is pretty much the half-way.”

Ciaran got involved with the challenge through Mess up the Mess, a theatre company for young people of all abilities, who nominated him for the challenge.

He said, “When Children in Need contacted me, it seemed like a great proposition, something I couldn’t refuse.”

He claims the most difficult part of the journey so far has been the passage across the Brecon Beacons, where the terrain was difficult and mostly uphill.

He credits the rest of the team with the success of the ride so far, claiming that “they are a great bunch of young people. We really have a laugh together and there are some great personalities.”

When speaking about what Children in Need has done for him personally, Ciaran said that Mess up the Mess has given him the chance to perform in professionally produced theatrical productions and to write his own his play.

The youngsters will be cycling into the BBC television centre on Friday night, whilst the annual Children in Need show is being broadcast, to conclude their journey.

News 4–8

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddnews

7

ONLINE UNIVERSITIES MAY THREATEN TRADITIONAL DEGREES

Tom Eden News Editor

The rapid increase in people participating in online university courses has lead to claims that online degrees may be signalling the end for traditional universities.

A forerunner in this industry is an online university called Udacity, which aims to provide mass high quality education across the world. One of the men behind this internet-driven educational revolution is Sebstian Thrun. He is the founder of Udacity and a former professor of Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University in America. Other projects

by Thun have included a selfdriving car and ‘Google-glasses’ – augmented reality spectacles.

He has high hopes for the online university development, saying

“this is the future, I’m absolutely convinced of it”.

They have had a million users register faster than Facebook and faster than Instagram He may have good cause for optimism. Since Thrun opened up his Stanford University artificial intelligence class to the world – anyone was able to join in online. From the Stanford campus, 200 students enrolled.

Online, 160,000 people enrolled.

There were students studying Thrun's course onlinefrom every country in the world, bar North Korea.

Udacity is not alone. Two of Thrun's computer science colleagues set up a similar scheme - Coursera, which has formed partnerships with 33 established universities such as Princeton and Stanford. Incredibly, they have had a million users faster than Facebook and faster than Instagram.

One of the most appealing, and revolutionary elements of these courses is that they are currently all free. In Britain, where students face fees of up to £9,000, and where students have effectively become consumers, the choice to study online may prove tempting. However, this is at a very early stage, claims that this will mean the end for traditional universities may be premature and sensationalist.

A Cardiff University spokesperson says that, amongst other

things, ‘The educational benefits of traditional learning are the opportunities for collaborative learning, in-depth discussion and practical work. There is also the benefit of building up a greater range of employability skills through interaction with peers and tutors, which all help to prepare students for employment.’

In terms of Cardiff University’s embrace of technical advancements, several things appear positive. Research conducted in July and August this year has shown a significant increase the use of the University’s virtual learning environment, Learning Central, with more than double the amount of modules containing a good range of materials and resources compared to that found in an identical exercise in 2007.

This has been reflected in the large number of students commenting in the National Student Survey (NSS) that the use of Learning Central and other technologies for teaching have been a positive aspect of their University experience.

Higher Education Funding Council for Wales launched a ten year strategy in 2008 aiming to accelerate the mainstreaming of technology-enhanced learning and teaching provision, processes and practice. Since this time the University has been gathering evidence on our use of technology-enhanced learning and supporting staff in embracing new technologies and identifying how their application can enhance the educational experience of students.

8 / News

‘Battle of the Unis’ success in Solus Amy Endacott

News Writer Last Tuesday saw a meeting of Cardiff-based students in the city’s annual Battle of the Unis.

The event brings together students from Cardiff University, the University of Glamorgan and Cardiff Metropolitan University (formerly UWIC) and invites them to take part in a number of trials to win points for their university team.

Some of the ways in which students could win points included gladiator duels, sumo wrestling, bungee runs and dance-offs.

There were many students ready to take up the challenge, with cheers of support and encouragement from their peers.

The event, which ran from 9pm until 3am, was organised by club promotion company Climax. This year was especially different as, for the first time, the event was held in Cardiff Univer-

sity Students' Union as opposed to more neutral venues such as Oceana and Walkabout where the event has taken place before. By 10pm, Solus was packed, showing that students were not put off by the event changing location and still want to take part in this annual competition.

venue and an important and valued part of the Cardiff University experience.

At the end of the night, the university with the most points was announced as the winner.

This year proved a great success as Cardiff was crowned the best university overall.

Cardiff Students' Union has recently been suffering as two new club nights were axed within weeks of them starting Cardiff Students’ Union has been suffering recently as two new club nights were axed within weeks of them starting, due to poor attendance from students.

The success of last Tuesday proves that the SU is still a good

University Hospital Alcohol-free pub in Roath denies treatment Jacob Dirnhuber

News Writer Cardiff's largest hospital has been branded a "disgrace" by the father of a disabled teenager who was denied access to hydrotherapy treatment.

Freelance photographer Alex Skibinski's 14-year-old son, Joe, suffers from dystonic cerebral palsy and was referred for hydrotherapy treatment in July by an NHS consultant at University Hospital of Wales. However, he was denied access to the facility after it emerged that the only NHS-owned hydrotherapy pool in Cardiff was reserved for adults.

Alex said, "I think that it's a disgrace that children living in the capital of Wales are denied access to this form of treatment which could be so beneficial to them."

While there are two other hy-

Ellie Woodruff

drotherapy facilities in Cardiff that are specifically designed for children, they are both privately owned and thus unavailable to NHS patients such as Joe. It has emerged that the same pool Joe was denied access to has, in the past, been used by the private Spire Cardiff Hospital, something that greatly angers Joe's father, who said, "I think it's a disgrace that children living in the capital of Wales are denied access to this form of treatment" "I also think it's shocking that children are not allowed access to a hydrotherapy pool at the University Hospital, which is currently reserved for adults, while private patients from the Spire are. This suggests that the only way you can get access to this form of treatment is by paying for it."

Fiona Jenkins, Executive Director of Therapies and Health Sci-

ence for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, acknowledged the benefits of hydrotherapy for children and claimed that staff were trying to provide hydrotherapy treatment for minors.

"For some children, exercise in water is an effective way of providing treatment, though exercise without the use of a hydrotherapy pool is also effective.

Work is underway on the second phase of the Children's Hospital for Wales, which will include a hydrotherapy facility.

I think it's a disgrace that children living in the capital of Wales are denied access to this treatment "The pool at UHW is specifically designed for adults and does not have appropriate hoists and other equipment that is required to safely treat most children.

"We are looking at all possible avenues to provide adequate hydrotherapy, including talking with specialist schools to ensure that children receive exercise programmes that are appropriate to their needs."

University Hospital Wales later confirmed that private patients were indeed allowed to use the hydrotherapy pool but stressed that their presence was not in any way detrimental to the duration or quality of treatment received by NHS patients.

News Writer Plans are underway to open Cardiff’s first alcohol-free pub, where the only drinks provided will be alcohol-free. The revolutionary idea comes from Mr Wynford Ellis Owen and is part of a project to tackle drug and alcohol addiction in the city.

Mr Ellis Owen, 63, is now Chairman of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs but fought his own battle with alcoholism for most of his adult life.

His aim is to create a venue in the capital for families, under-18s and people who don’t drink alcohol.

“When things like the rugby are on, it’s synonymous with drinking, but there is nowhere for people to go who want to watch it in a communal setting but who don’t drink,” said Mr Owen. “Things are in the early stages, but it will be a pub with all the amenities that other pubs have, but without the booze.”

When things like the rugby are on, it's synonymous with drinking but there is nowhere for people to go who want to watch it in a communal setting The profits generated from the pub would go to The Living Room, a Cardiff-based charity for people with alcohol, drug and other dependencies. The centre

in Roath has treated more than 200 patients since opening 14 months ago, in addition to organising retreats and support for the patients’ families. It is run by a

team of staff and volunteers.

Plans for the pub are still in their early stages, and Mr Owen conceded that although he has the idea, he is still in talks about funding and is yet to find the right venue.

The UK’s first alcohol-free pub, The Halal Inn, opened in Oldham in 2008, and was targeted at the male Islamic community. If Mr Owen’s plans are successful, Cardiff could become one of just a handful of cities in the UK to have followed suit.

9

Opinion 9–13

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddop

For & Against

No platform for student news?

Tomáš Tengely-Evans and Beth Gregory discuss whether Cardiff Students' Union should adopt the No Platform policy that the NUS currently enforces on itself

gair rhydd Monday 1st October 2012 | freeword - Est. 1972 | Issue 984

For From time to time, it becomes necessary to return to a timeworn yet crucially important question: “How does a democracy defend itself?” In a recent headline piece, Chris Williams (elected editor of gair rhydd) chose to re-release excerpts from an interview with BNP leader Nick Griffin, originally published in Leeds Student, despite Leeds Students’ Union’s ‘No Platform’ policy.

In many European states, fascist organisations are growing in strength and number – in France, the Front National won 18% of the vote, while in Greece, Golden Dawn mobs are actively murdering immigrants.

Yet in Britain, the far-right is in decline. As recently as 2007, Nick Griffin’s BNP were poised to take control of local councils and canvassed 943,598 votes on the way to gaining two MEPs. In 2010, the boot-boys of the English Defence League (EDL) were still marching through multicultural cities like Cardiff. But in last year’s local elections, the BNP lost nearly all of its council seats and the EDL is fragmenting in disarray.

The stark contrast is no freak accident – the objective socioeconomic circumstances conducive to racist and fascist ideas gaining traction are present in both Britain and France. The BNP was successfully confronted through a combination of community engagement, positive local initiatives and organisations, through the operation of their

own democracy, freely resolving to deny the BNP the legitimacy that a platform constitutes.

Of course, we would all love to live in a more peaceful world where each idea is calmly and rationally evaluated on its own merits. Unfortunately, the statistics prove that where the BNP organise, the facts prove that anybody who is black, Asian, gay or held to be ‘a little bit different’, risks a greater likelihood of suffering violence and attack.

Dispelling one myth, it is perfectly legal for Students’ Unions to adopt a ‘No Platform’ policy.

The 1987 Education Act is oft misquoted (ultimately, as Students’ Unions remain separate and distinct entities from universities, they are not bound by Section 43), while a report by the Equality Challenge Unit recommended that it would be appropriate under law for universities to refuse access to a far-right speaker.

The issue is not one of freedom of speech; ‘No Platform’ is not about blanket, legal bans or excluding ‘dangerous ideas’. Speaking personally, I would never argue for state proscription!

Rather, it is about individual students' collective freedom as a part of a campaigning Union to decide whether organised fascists are welcome in Cardiff University and the freedom of students elsewhere, including the University of Leeds, to make that same decision. TT-G

and Quench

Against

“

As a student newspaper, gair rhydd should adopt an impartial stance, and this means allowing all views to be heard

The No Platform policy adopted by the NUS is to fundamentally not allow anyone who is believed to hold racist or fascist views to have the platform to participate in any NUS function. gair rhydd doesn't have a No Platform policy, and it should stay this way. As a student newspaper, gair rhydd should adopt an impartial stance, and this means allowing all views to be heard.

Many supporters of the No Platform policy will argue that not having this policy is bad for democracy, but this view fails to understand that at the core of democracy is free speech. Surely it is less democratic to take free speech away from someone, even if the views they hold are not democratic in themselves.

As soon as anyone is cut off from exercising their free speech, the democracy most of us all stand for has to be called into question.

As well as free speech for all individuals, freedom of the press is crucial to democracy. ‘Gair rhydd’ translates as ‘free word’, but that would not be relevant if a No Platform policy was enforced. Effectively, gair rhydd’s independence would be lost.

The media is such an essential and influential part of society, and an important part of democracy. Without democracy, the media becomes at worst dangerous, and at best is unable to fully inform readers.

In theory, a No Platform policy is standing up for democracy,

and is attempting to protect democracy from the threat of fascists. This may be important, but in practice, a No Platform policy can effectively take away democracy, take away freedom and blur the boundaries of what is allowed and what is not. It makes it unclear as to what is OK to say, and what is crossing the line.

This means controversial yet important topics will rarely be discussed, in fear that there may be aspects which breach the No Platform policy.

As someone who has fairly left-wing beliefs politically, I would never advocate fascist or racist views, and am fundamentally against those views, but because of my own views and beliefs I can also understand the true meaning and importance of free speech. We live in a world where people's views are vast and varied, some are controversial, some even defy belief, but they are views that exist and are relevant, and that should not be put in the dark by a No Platform policy.

Not having a No Platform policy does not mean being fascist or supportive of fascists; it means allowing everyone to have their voices heard, or simply being able to talk about matters that may concern fascist groups without being persecuted for it.

It means having a free voice. It means true democracy. BG

10 / Opinion Movember Diaries: Vox Pop Nick Evans

Opinion Editor This week, I interview some famous historical figures to get their views on the moustache as a concept in general.

Salvador Dali I think it's fair to say that my moustache is nowhere near as manly as the others within this vox pop, but I used my strengths and made it artistic! I urge every man to grow a mo for their bros – your moustache can be beautiful if you just believe!

Lord Herbert Kitchener The First World War was won off the back of my moustache. Men would keep photos of me in their wallets while in the trenches and when they felt they were losing heart, they would stare long and hard at the moustache and feel instantly inspired and stalwart.

Tom Selleck As Magnum, P.I., I often found that interrogating suspects required nothing more than forcing them to look deep into my moustache, the feeling that resistance was futile would then wash over them and they would give me all the info I needed #winning.

US Elections: The Global Soap Opera

Philippa Ako discusses why the US elections get so much coverage worldwide, why the lives of the candidates were played out like soap operas, and why the UK elections are not approached with such candour and fervour

T

he 2010 General Election was meant to be the first big social media election, but it never quite got there. Why has the US election attracted so much more attention?

It would be naive to say that the US election has nothing to do with us here in the UK. The President of the United States is often described as ‘the leader of the free world’; he has a duty to be involved in important summits such as the G8, and we cannot forget our ‘special relationship’ with the US. It is definitely in our interests that our American cousins choose somebody who is actually competent, and it is refreshing to see public discussion about politics.

What has been interesting – and maybe even a cause for concern for British politics – is the amount of opinion and attention this election has received in comparison to our last General Election. Twitter and Facebook were full of US election buzz, opinion, and a great deal of fact-flinging.

Even gair rhydd ran articles about the candidates (strictly informative of course). What is it about the US elections that got the nation gripped? Is this marking a shift in the way that we view politics? Has this generation finally become socially conscious and ready to become responsible for our world leaders? Are we finally adults?

Maybe, maybe not.

The US elections are like the fair coming into town: it’s ostentatious, loud and very hard to miss. Politics in the US is just so much more in-your-face than anything we have here, so it’s pretty hard not to get sucked in. There are so many speeches and public appearances that you find yourself knowing the candidates and some of their views passively. We found the same thing happening with the introduction of the television debates in 2010.

You cannot deny that the US is so much more glamorous than the UK in almost every aspect, and their candidates are no exception.

Barack Obama oozes cool so effortlessly; he can sing, he can dance, and appears to be friends with Jay-Z. It is so much easier to root for a candidate who is actually likeable; I can tell you for free that the Conservatives would probably run away with the next election if they let Boris Johnson become party leader.

The US has just got more appealing candidates and this has captured our attention.

While democracy should have nothing to do with popularity, at this age, it just does. You only have to look at Cardiff University’s very own Students' Union elections to notice this.

A big factor is that the UK has a massive obsession with anything and everything that goes on across the pond. Television, music, film... you name it, if it has anything to do with popular culture, we are studying it and making it as good as our own. We are a generation that takes the lead from our favourite icons, and if Sabrina the Teenage Witch is supporting Mitt Romney, we are going to

Google why. During election time, having a sound idea about both of the candidates’ views is a must for everybody, including the stars and, of course, we want in. This election has been drenched with idols from our favourite films and bands pledging their allegiance to a particular party, though this is nothing new. Since 2004, leading figures in hip hop have been major advocates of ‘Rock the Vote’, a massive campaign to get teens to become acquainted with the issues and use their vote wisely.

The inclusion of a mixed-race candidate in 2008 and 2012 has only made their efforts stronger, and we in the UK have been influenced by this. We have become massive fans of Obama, whether it is because our political allegiances here are similar to his party’s stance, or because he has become a major popular culture icon. Regardless, I doubt the next election will gather the same amount of interest (unless, of course, Hilary Clinton decides to put herself forward).

Should we really be taking tips from the US, though? Perhaps.

The election may have seemed like a glitzy popularity contest at times, but it did create a buzz that everybody wanted to be a part of. Nobody wanted to be left out of the debate, and took it upon themselves to educate themselves on the facts. Reforms such as Obamacare led to many of us thanking our lucky stars for the NHS and becoming opposed to any detrimental changes to it. More importantly, social media was alive with real debate, not just inane memes or banal conversation.

People acted like they cared. Hopefully, this has sparked a streak in all of us, and when the next General Election rolls around, we’ll be more inclined to vote as knowledgeable citizens.

Everyone has an opinion. Email us your ideas at opinion@ gairrhydd.com

Opinion 9–11

GOT

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11

AN

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddop

Artists such as Soulja Boy (real name DeAndre Cortez Way) paved the way for this new kind of rap artist with nothing but a dance, a two-syllable song title and missed trips to the gym.

He signed a deal with Interscope records in 2007 and was a millionaire before his 18th birthday.

Why? Because he has tattoos on his face and body, and wears baggy clothes that appeal to the younger generation. Not to mention the extremely catchy hooks of his songs – and hey, there’s even a dance! All these mixed together equals dollar signs to the average studio executive.

Now, rappers like Chief Keef (real name Keith Cozart), who released the hit single “Don’t Like”, are getting national attention and features veterans in the rap industry such as Kanye West and Pusha T. The song consists of a heavy drumbeat and a catchy hook that could have been written by a child getting repeatedly whipped by group of well-built 10th-graders. To anyone who has not heard the song, save yourself the trouble and YouTube a group of hyenas laughing. In spite of all this, the song bestowed Chief Keef a chance to work with renowned artists and sign a deal with Interscope records, because he has dreadlocks, tattoos and – for lack of a better term – a “hood rat” persona.

Take the rapper 2chainz (real name Tauheed Epps), the lyrical genius behind the line “nothing but shaved p***y on my iPhone”.

HERE

IS A

DEAL

Opinion Writer

T

he world of rap seems to be getting flooded with ‘music’ that lacks any sensible concept and insight.

Instead, it seems to consist of stripper anthems and catchy hooks accompanied by IQ-lowering lyricism. In the new age of rap, having a nice beat while spouting nonsensical lyrics seems to be a prerequisite. Just ask rapper Juicy J (real name Jordan Houston) who sports a whole upper jaw of gold teeth and is the genius behind the booty-popping track “Bandz A Make Her Dance”.

How is it that rap is now opening its doors to these new lacklustre artists? It’s all in the image.

It’s a well-known fact that the music industry is commercialised. Studio execs care more about billboard spots, weekly sales and tour revenues than releasing music that is actually humanely decent to listen to. The major studios know that artists with a unique image are more likely to give a return on their investment. This is because these artists will connect better with their target audience. Examples of this can be seen with artists such as Tyga and Wiz Khalifa, who both have tattoos all over their bodies, as well as unique hairstyles and outfits. Both have reached the top five of the Billboard 200 list and their recent albums have both sold over 150,000 copies in a week.

The reason why record companies feel a need to give an artist an image once they are signed lies in what consumers think artists should look like. When we turn on the television, we expect to see people who have copious amounts of tattoos, wear fashionable clothes or have over-thetop personas. Lord forbid if consumers nowadays turned on the TV to see artists that look like a bunch average Joes.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with artists having an image.

However, I believe the music industry has put too much emphasis on the need for one and as a result of this over-emphasis, we are in a lyrical recession. What used to stand for 'rhythm and poetry' is now a mess of rappers with colorful names bearing ridiculous words on a catchy beat and hook. The poetry part has been forgotten and replaced instead with the rappers’ image; it should now be known as 'rhythm and image' (RAI, for short).

RECORD

IMAGE?

Clinton Koola

I will give you a moment to process this line, as it took me several minutes trying to figure out what it means with no avail.

Once a member of rap duo “Playaz Circle”, he left the group, donned some tighter-fitting clothes, bought new rounded glasses, let his dreads grow out some more and – voila! – 2chainz has now amassed a repertoire of music that will not only keep strip club DJs happy, but earned him 'Rookie of the Year' honours at the BET Hip Hop Awards. His album also debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 list, and it would be worth mentioning that while he was with Playaz Circle and had a somewhat different image, he never even cracked the top 25. While his lyrical content and subject matter have stayed largely the same, the only variable seems to be his new marketed image.

But that is not to say that all the artists coming into the game with an image are not lyrically competent as well.

Kendrick Lamar, with his faded-hair, casual-star look, has been garnering respect, more for his lyrical delivery, profound subject matter and rhythmic flow than for the beats that come with them. He posits such clever lines as, “So the next time you feel like your world is about to end, I hope you studied because he’s testing your faith again”.

This is lyricism that I grew up to love. It’s no wonder why he was named 'Lyricist of the Year, over

his respected peers such as Jay-Z and J. Cole at the BET Hip Hop Awards. This is also why artists of the calibre of Dr. Dre and Nas couldn’t wait to work with him, the former even signing him to his record label.

A$AP Rocky is another example of artists releasing quality music while maintaining their image. His hair in corn-rows, unique fashion sense and quickto-pull-a-middle-finger persona has amassed quite a following, primarily as a result of songs like the decadence-themed song "Bass", or his homage to his hometown in “Peso”. Sporting such lines as “I'm sick and tired of trying to survive, I'm sick tired of my environment, I'm sick and tired of feeling deprived, I'm one of a kind, when in my climate, I'm sick and tired of your façade and all of your lying and all your diamonds, basically I'm tired of feeling sick and tired”. It is clear that rappers can maintain an image while releasing thought-provoking, lyrically-sound material.

Another prime example is the rapper Joey Bada$$ (real name Jo-Vaughan Scott). He has been heralded as the new rap messiah by the influential artist Nas. He is growing a loyal fanbase as a result of songs such as “Hardknock”, which depicts life growing up in his hometown of Brooklyn; and “Waves”, which sheds some light on the struggles of a young man trying to avoid temptation. His music gives off an old-school feel, reminiscent of hip hop in its infancy; he is also equipped with introspective lyrics and Notorious-like flow. At the tender age of 17, Joey Bada$$ has already worked with fellow up-and-comer and respected rapper Mac Miller, and has been featured in this year's BET Hip Hop Cypher, all without releasing his second mixtape! His image is of a simple-Brooklyn style, sporting hoodies, snapbacks and the coveted Jordan sneakers.

Joey actually seems to not have an “image” as some of his fellow rappers. As he is just starting out and has yet to release a widely recognised album, chances are he will have one in time. Regardless of this, though, Joey is making the world of rap a more interesting and deep place, he is part of the 'new school' group of rappers that are 'saving' the rap scene from obscurity, debauchery and video vixened plot lines.

Please can someone kick these rappers out!

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14 / Politics

Starbucks roasted at tax committee hearing Politics writer Chris McSweeney investigates tax evasion accusations of corporate players in the UK

C

“

£900 million owed to HM Revenue and Customs could have been evaded by filtering through tax havens

orporate giants Starbucks, Amazon and Google came under intense scrutiny last week from the Public Accounts Committee, as questions were raised over their UK tax contributions, after allegations from Reuters earlier this month. All three corporations presented testimonies at the hearing, in order to deny claims of evading up to £900 million taxes owed to HM Revenue and Customs.

The hearing revealed that taxes could have been evaded by filtering profits through tax havens such as Luxembourg and Ireland.

Labour MP Margaret Hodge had addressed her concerns before Parliament at the beginning of the month and chaired the select committee. Representatives from Starbucks, Amazon and Google were grilled intensely on their suspect tax affairs. This comes in the wake of intense pressure from activist groups and independent financial regulators within the UK who are demanding to know why, in an age of austerity defined by harsh cuts to public services, such big businesses can escape abiding by UK tax law.

Prior to the hearing, Starbucks seemed to be the most frequently scrutinised in the press, and this was reflected in their consumer satisfaction rating on poll site YouGov, which had taken a nosedive over recent weeks. Aside from this, they were the only corporation called to the hearing who sent out a press release addressing the allegations against them, “Starbucks adheres to both the letter and spirit of the law regarding our business practices, and the UK is no exception. In fact, since we entered the UK market in 1998, we have consistently paid all taxes as required.”

When called before the com-

mittee, Starbucks’ Chief Financial Officer Troy Alstead claimed that, in spite of their 700 stores and household name status throughout the UK, the company had made a loss of £33 million during their 15 years of business in the country, and were thus exempt from paying the 24 per cent corporation tax rate required. These claims were met with significant scepticism since independent inquiries have shown significant data to be the contrary. Aside from this, a very suspect six per cent of profits from franchisees are paid to the Netherlands, where Starbucks has what has been described as “a very comfortable tax deal”. Despite this evidence, Starbucks denies any wrongdoing and claims they are being forced to close a number of stores throughout the UK in order to deal with their supposed losses.

Amazon also had some very difficult questions to answer in the wake of significant revelations throughout the hearing.

The committee heard that the transaction process of Amazon UK is as follows: an Amazon product is bought in the UK by a consumer, the product comes from a warehouse in the UK, is delivered by Royal Mail and the bill is printed in the UK. However, Amazon pay no tax in the UK because the consumer is actually billed to the Amazon HQ in Luxembourg, which pays a much lower business rate. “The bill is printed in the UK” said Andrew Cecil, public policy director for Amazon.

In response, Hodge accused Cecil of being “deliberately evasive” in the wake of his inability to provide details of Amazon’s European profits and was insistent on requesting a more senior executive come before the committee.

However, Google was com-

mended by the committee for being more direct and honest; they openly admitted to channelling UK sales back to the US through their European base of operations in Ireland.

The Irish business rate of 12 per cent is less than half of what they would be expected to pay within the borders of the United Kingdom.

Problematically for the select committee, the most obvious offences by the three companies are exploitations of existing legal loopholes.

As Hodge said to Matt Brittin, the representative for Google, “we’re not accusing you of being illegal, we’re accusing you of being immoral.”

The question remains as to whether or not the British taxpayer will be satisfied with the committee’s findings so far, as it will, after all, be the British taxpayer paying the price so that international big businesses don’t have to. In response, several boycotts of Starbucks, Amazon and Google have been started at grassroots level.

A follow-up to the hearing takes place in two weeks.

The week in WAG

The National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill becomes the first Welsh Bill to recieve Royal Assent

The 'Communities First' initiative launches a new plan to tackle poverty in Wales

In the first ever export week, the Business Department runs workshops to encourage Welsh companies to expand abroad

BBC Director-General resigns over abuse scandal Ashley Bebbington Politics Writer

On the evening of Saturday, November 10th, George Entwistle announced his resignation from the BBC, becoming the shortestserving Director-General in the history of the corporation. In a 54-day reign that was mired in controversy, Entwistle resigned because of his failure to oversee the accurate reporting of the ongoing sexual abuse scandal, which was sparked by allegations against the late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile. Entwistle received severance pay of £450,000 from the BBC, a year’s salary for the Director-General, despite having been in the post for less than two months. The pay-off has received criticism from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman, who argued that it was "not justifiable".

Entwistle received a severance payment of £450,000 from the BBC for his 54day reign The resignation occurred in the wake of a Newsnight broadcast on November 2nd that wrongfully implicated Conservative peer Lord McAlpine in a case of sexual abuse, a scandal that has claimed the jobs of other senior figures in the BBC. In the broadcast, it was alleged that a senior Conservative politician from the Thatcher era was re-

I

In the thick of it Gaffes, guffs and scandal from inside UK government political communications.

Rachel Victoria Lewis

sponsible for the abuse of Steven Messham, which occurred in a North Wales children’s home in the 1980s. The broadcast did not name Lord McAlpine, but contained enough information to lead to online speculation that he was the guilty party. Prime Minister David Cameron warned the public not to begin a "witch hunt" against suspected paedophiles, but to report any relevant information to the police. The Government launched a full police inquiry, but McAlpine was found to be innocent after Steven Messham revealed that he had mistakenly identified his abuser as Lord McAlpine when interviewed by the police. The Conservative peer had consistently denied the accusations, calling them "wholly false and seriously defamatory".

Newsnight was also involved in scandal a month earlier, when the programme’s editor, Peter Rippon, decided not to broadcast an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against Jimmy Savile. Savile is thought to have used his position within the BBC to help him abuse up to 300 young people over 40 years.

Such allegations against Savile had been brought to the attention of the BBC shortly after his death in November 2011, and George Entwistle was known to have shown a lack of interest in the claims, fuelling suspicion that the BBC covered up Savile’s child abuse. The Parliamentary Select Committee for Culture later accused Entwistle of having a "lack of curiosity" about the Savile case. ITV went on to release an investigation into Savile that put

forward similar allegations. Following the ITV programme and further allegations against Savile, an inquiry was launched to investigate why the BBC had dropped their broadcast.

It has come to light that there is a great deal of ambiguity over who was ultimately responsible for the broadcast of the report on North Wales children’s homes, and the lack of interest in the Savile scandal. However, it is likely that all of the relevant inquiries will reveal further details on the scandals in the coming weeks.

Tim Davies has been appointed as acting Director-General, and will take over Entwistle’s duties until a successor is appointed, which the BBC insist will be within weeks.

Housing benefit cut could create a lost generation

Opinion editor Nick Evans gives his unique take on the proposed changes to housing benefits to the under-25s t seems that whenever our Government are in the news these days, they're announcing a new cut to public spending or quasiprivatisation. This week saw a review from housing charity Crisis regarding the upcoming cut to the housing benefits of young people aged 18–25.

This cut could hit graduates particularly hard as a significant number of students do not go straight into employment. Not only will we be encumbered by up to £27,000 in student loans, we will receive absolutely no help from the government once we're trying to stand on our own two feet. It seems we will have to go back to mum and dad with our tails between our legs.

But let's count our blessings: my mother's house is always warm, well-stocked with food and has a beautiful Border Collie in it by the name of Rubin.

The street has no such luxuries.

The real victims of this thoughtless and heinous act by our government are not students with a mummy and a daddy who love them, but those under 25 who

15

Politics 14–16

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddpol

come from broken homes; perhaps where they are not welcome or where they have been subject to abuse. Crisis have voiced serious concerns about the number of young people who will end up on the streets because of this cut.

They claim that some 28,000 seriously ill or disabled people will be among those affected.

David Cameron, speaking from the balcony of his glass tower, suggested that people simply 'go back to their parents'.

I'm sorry, Dave, but not everyone

has a small fortune behind them.

There are a lot of parents who can hardly support themselves, never mind their adult children.

What about young people with dependent children? Will we raise a generation of lumpenproletariat on the streets?

Even working couples will suffer from this cut. With the increase in VAT and an ever spiralling cost of living, the extra £90-a-week that the average claimaint(s) previously received was a massive help. Life will only

get tougher without it.

The Guardian interviewed a woman claiming benefits named Jade who recently lost her job as a hairdresser and was struggling to find work. She claims that without her housing benefits over the last couple of months, she would have already been made homeless, through no fault of her own.

This entire issue is a prime example of the stance of our current Government: do nothing for the vulnerable except take a few notches out of the crutch that they lean on. Why aren't more universal benefits being targeted, benefits that aid the middle-class as well as the working class, such as the winter fuel allowance? Cameron vowed not to touch old-age benefits while on the campaign trail and, so far, has not broken his promise. It seems illogical to me to maintain and facilitate the welfare of the elderly while sabotaging that of the young. If we want our current generation of young people to live long and full lives, we cannot afford to abandon them at their most vulnerable.

B

oris Johnson has urged David Cameron to hire the right-wing political strategist Lynton Crosby to run the Conservative General Election campaign in 2015. Crosby has developed a notorious reputation as a political strategist and has received such tabloid titles as 'master of the dark political arts', 'the Wizard of Oz', 'the Australian Karl Rove' and 'one of the most powerful and influential figures in the Australian nation'.

Crosby masterminded Boris Johnson's mayoral success for two terms, and Johnson emphasised "they should kill the fatted calf, break the piggy bank, go for Lynton and give him a pretty free hand to run things". Defending his reputation in a comically unconvincing way, Boris insisted that Crosby is "the soul of sweetness".

The appointment of Crosby could be interpreted as a veiled criticism of George Osborne's ability to oversee the election strategy. There are criticisms of their campaign currently lacking clarity, energy and direction, especially within the confusion of a coalition government.

Osborne's strong Tory platform, which mainly appeals to the middle and upper classes, is unlikely to get the votes necessary for the Conservative Party to win the election. Under Osborne's supervision, Cameron would likely make similar mistakes to Mitt Romney, by not reaching out to those who depend on state benefits, ethnic minorities and students.

Boris Johnson draws attention to the 'pay-out' culture at Westminster in regards to political communications and campaign strategies. Votes should not be bought and it is likely that Crosby will have Cameron perform as a marionette puppet, in the same way as many of his previous clients have. They will likely work on dirty tactics such as vilifying Ed Miliband, instead of focusing on clarity of policies that the rational voter so desperately needs.

16 / Politics

UK Government pulls the plug on Indian aid Jacob Dirnhuber

Politics Writer The British government has announced that it intends to stop all financial aid to India by 2015.

According to Justine Greening, the International Development Secretary, the move will save an estimated £200 million in a time of austerity and economic hardship.

"After reviewing the programme and holding discussions with the government of India this week, we agree that now is the time to move to a relationship focusing on skills sharing rather than aid," Greening said recently.

"Having visited India, I have seen first-hand the tremendous progress being made. India is successfully developing and our own bilateral relationship has to keep up with 21st-century India. It's time to recognise India's changing place in the world."

In 2011, a former Indian finance minister described the aid received from Britain as "peanuts", comprising only a tiny proportion of total development expenditure, so it is unlikely that the withdrawal of the aid will anger the majority of Indian politicians.

Indeed, Greening's predecessor, Andrew Mitchell, caused controversy last year when he claimed that one of the reasons why the aid was provided for so long was to secure a lucrative military aviation contract, which eventually went to France.

India's current finance minister said that it was "perfectly acceptable" for the UK to reduce the aid, saying: "We don't really need it. We have accepted it in

the past, but I think both countries have agreed that we can emphasise trade, rather than aid."

Although India boasts Asia's third-largest economy and has its own space programme, there are still crippling levels of poverty that have yet to be properly addressed by the incumbent government. Three of India's poorest states are heavily reliant on international aid, the majority of which comes from Britain.

Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Orissa have some of the highest levels of malnutrition in India and the already mediocre quality of life is expected to deteriorate further with the loss of British financial support. 37 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, while 67 per cent survive on less than $2 per day.

“India is not uniform and even in the new India, where there is a lot of wealth, there is a great deal of variance between different parts,” said Baijayant Panda, a politician representing a constituency in Orissa. "There are certain parts of India that do need the financial assistance."

The decision to withdraw the aid has resulted in criticism from charities such as Oxfam, who described the decision as "too hasty", noting that a third of the world's poor reside in India.

World Vision claimed that it is "no easy task for any government to lift so many people out of poverty in the short term, even with extensive financial aid".

The news that Britain is withdrawing its aid comes as economists speculate that India's economic boom is at an end, with industrial production falling and

“

We don't really need it. We have accepted it in the past but both countries have agreed to emphasise trade, rather than aid

a trade deficit of £13.22 billion.

If the Indian economy recovers from its blip and continues expanding as it did in 2011, it is expected that the number of people in extreme poverty will be halved by 2015, the year when Britain is expected to withdraw its economic aid. However, if it doesn't recover, poverty could dramatically increase, and without the safety net of British aid, the number of impoverished could rise to an unimaginable level.

The Indian government has already been roundly criticised for its seeming reluctance to spend money on poverty alleviation schemes. "Children should be considered highest national priority. Malnutrition is a complex issue as it is not a question of food intake only. Health and sanitation

also play vital roles," said social activist Harsh Mander, who has been appointed commissioner by the Supreme Court in a case on public distribution system.

"We have asked the government to address certain issues, including that a child, whether or not in school, should get midday meal."

Mander said.

With several of the alleviation schemes reliant on foreign aid, it is likely that Britain's withdrawal could have a drastic impact on the capabilities of those seeking to provide relief to those living in extreme poverty. If India's economy continues to decline, questions will be asked of the politicians who have supposedly gambled the future of the nation's poor in a bid for greater international stature.

Just a few of the housing 'options' in India

18 / Science

Cardiff scientists receive schizophrenia research award Fatima Taqvi

Science Writer Cardiff University scientists Professors Michael Owen and Michael O’Donovan have received the Lieber Prize in New York for their research into the causes and treatment of schizophrenia. Professor Owen is the head of Cardiff's MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, while Professor O’Donovan is its deputy director. Both are members of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute in Cardiff University. Together, they have studied the genetics behind schizophrenia for over 20 years.

Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder

Professor Michael Owen

The average age of onset in men

18

% of people who hear voices

4

Number of sufferers globally

51

million

They were recognised for discovering key mechanisms involved in the development of schizophrenia. Exposing the genetic causes of this mental illness is crucial to its prevention and treatment.

The Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation gives out several yearly prizes, with the Lieber Prize being awarded specifically for breakthroughs in schizophrenia research. The award of £31,000 will go to helping the professors in their cause, which Professor O’Donovan said is “by no means done”.

Schizophrenia has historically been a polemic disorder. People with schizophrenia have often been shrugged off by society, being vaguely labelled as suffering from madness, demonic possession or witchcraft.

The fact that such important progress is being made at Cardiff University should make us proud Advances in medicine mean that schizophrenia can quite often be managed so that the person affected can lead a stable, functional life. While there is, as yet, no known cure for schizophrenia, with treatment strategies focusing more on controlling

episodes of psychosis, it is thanks to the dedication and on-going research of scientists such as Professors Owen and O’Donovan that the future looks bright.

Nobody knows exactly why schizophrenia develops, which is why the research is so groundbreaking. It has been known for some time that it is multifactorial, which means that many factors such as genetics, environment and trauma may be involved.

Schizophrenia is a long term disease of disordered thinking and is a psychotic illness. In the UK alone, it is believed that five out of every 1,000 people suffer from some form of psychosis.

Schizophrenia affects thinking, feeling and behaviour. The affected person has trouble separating what is real and what is imaginary. There are varying symptoms, and changeable degrees of experiencing these symptoms.

The symptoms may appear as additions in behaviour, such as hallucinations and delusions. These are called 'positive' symptoms.

Other symptoms are from a deficiency in normal functions, such as depression or apathy. These are called 'negative' symptoms.

Some people may have a single episode and recover quite soon after.

They discovered key mechanisms involved in the development of schizophrenia It is also a condition that has been long shrouded in misconception and stigma, with many believing schizophrenia leads to violence, or confusing it with other mental disorders such as dementia and multiple personality disorder. While those affected do have hallucinations and delusions, they are rarely violent or a danger to society.

The award highlights the importance of research and acknowledges that, properly supported, scientific enquiry can flourish. Rather than being seen as the end, this is a single step down the road towards positive and enlightened understanding and treatment. The fact that such important progress is being made at our very own Cardiff University should make us all proud.

Professor Michael O'Donovan

The average age of onset in women

25

% of people with schizophrenia

1.1

% who recover within 10 years

25

Science 18–21

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddsci

‘Baseball’ camera helps warn of danger Michael O'ConnellDavidson

Science Writer American start-up company Bounce Imaging has developed a throwable camera shaped like a baseball. The device has been described as ‘fire and forget’, and can be used to gather information in hazardous situations by throwing it into areas where it may be too dangerous to send humans. The device has a variety of potential applications in the public services, and could be adapted for a number of uses in the private sector.

The invention, described by the company as a ‘sensor platform’, contains a number of cameras as well as tools able to warn the user of environmental threats. For example, the device can detect high levels of carbon monoxide or radiation. This data, along with photos taken, is then sent to a smartphone or laptop to be viewed by the user.

The device is the brainchild of two former MIT students, Francisco Aguilar and Dave Young.

It can be used to explore unfamiliar and possibly hazardous areas, such as caves and unstable buildings, and could potentially

make the work of infantry and police far less dangerous in live fire situations. Bounce Imaging has announced that it will enter field-testing with several units of the Massachusetts police force over the coming months.

The device could make policework far less dangerous in live fire situations

ed to be as little as $500, has lead TIME magazine to recognise it as one of the best inventions of 2012. Other inventions named by TIME Magazine as some of the best this year include self-inflating tires, a 3D printer, and a home HIV test.

However, there are some concerns that the device could be used inappropriately. In an example offered by Bounce Imaging’s CEO, Francisco Aguilar he noted that it would not be impossible to throw the device onto somebody else’s property and use it to spy on them. As such, the camera carries with it a number of privacy implications, especially if sold on the public market.

A comparatively low-tech solution, the device would provide a cheap alternative to robotic or fibre-optic technology currently used by the public services. Its ease of use and low cost, estimat-

TIME’s Best Inventions of 2012 also included: t t t t

Tesla Model S Civilization Starter Kit Google Glass The Curiosity Rover

t t t t

NASA Z-1 Space Suit Indoor clouds Self-inflating tyres Body armour for women

Bounce Imaging’s device can send a 360° camera feed and environmental information to its user

19

Fukushima fish suggest ongoing nuclear leak Max Eshraghi

Science Writer The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan could still be an environmental threat if recent findings are to be believed. High caesium levels in fish found near the plant have been recorded, which indicates that damaged reactors may still be contaminating waters.

Although Japan has already temporarily closed fisheries near Fukushima to reduce human exposure, the new results suggest that it may be a long time before levels of radiation in the ocean decline.

18 months after the power plant was hit by an earthquake and tsunami, the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is still closely monitoring radiation levels in coastal fish.

Though the vast majority of fish tested off Japan’s north-east coast remain below recently tightened food consumption limits of caesium-134 and caesium-137, Japanese government data shows that 40 per cent of bottom-dwelling fish such as cod, flounder and halibut are above the limit. These samples from August put the caesium levels in these fish some 250 times the level the Japanese government considers safe.

The findings show the difficulty in predicting the repercussions of an incident like this The findings come from scientist Ken Buesseler from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the US. He writes in the paper Fishing For Answers Off Fukushima that "these fish could have to be banned for a long time. The most surprising thing for me was that the levels [of radioactivity] in the fish were not going down. There should have been much lower numbers," He identifies two possible sources of the continued contamination – the sea floor and the reactors themselves. Buesseler emphasises that the findings show the difficulty in predicting the repercussions of an incident like

this. The caesium contaminating the water is a human-made radioactive isotope produced through nuclear fission of the element caesium. It has a half-life of 30 years, leading Buesseler to speculate that decades could pass before caesium levels decreased significantly.

This situation could have a huge impact on the Japanese population, as the country ranks highest in per-capita consumption of seafood. As a safety precaution last April, Japan tightened restrictions on two radioactive forms of caesium. In an attempt to calm public fears, the government lowered the levels of radioactivity that would mean a fish was deemed unsafe for human consumption. The level was lowered from 500 becquerels to 100. This ensures fisheries will be closed if the fish exceed the limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram of net weight.

Buesseler's investigation brought him to the realisation that radiation levels in the fish hadn't dropped in the last year.

For example, two greenling fish collected in August contained a high level of 25,000 units.

"The fact that there's no significant decline in these fish suggests that the fish are being exposed to a constant supply of caesium either from their food or from the water."

However, Buesseler emphasised that this was a small increase in risk. "This is not lethal – I'm not trying to be alarmist", he said, "but the levels [of radioactivity in the fish] are measurable and consistent.

"I don't give advice – people can make up their own minds about whether they'll eat seafood or not, but they should do so with all available information.

They should know that there's a lot of naturally occurring radioactivity."

Eating large quantities of such fish over a long period of time could be harmful. But for now and the foreseeable future, the fisheries at Fukushima will remain closed, reducing the likelihood of someone purchasing seafood contaminated by the meltdown.

20 / Science

Does global warming cause hurricanes?

As recent research has shown that hurricane incidence has risen hugely over the past century, Science writer David Mason reviews the evidence that global warming is the culprit With Hurricane Sandy commanding a considerable amount of media attention, overshadowing even the final week of the US Presidential election, it comes as little surprise that further research is currently being devoted to finding out precisely what may trigger these natural disasters.

In the East and Gulf coasts of the US, hurricanes are particularly prevalent A recent publication in the US Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America (PNAS), Aslak Grinsted of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark has published results predicting that by the year 2100, the average number of cyclones and hurricanes that cause large scale tidal

surges will increase to around 9.5 per year. This figure is particularly shocking when considering that, in 1923, this average number was 5.4 per year – almost half of what is predicted for the end of this century.

Grinsted's research has involved the recording of six tide gauges across the East and Gulf coasts of the US, areas where hurricanes are both particularly prevalent and devastating. Tidal gauges were used to record large tidal surges caused by hurricanes, rather than the hurricanes themselves.

Grinsted explains that: "When you have a very large cyclone or hurricane, there's very low pressure that sucks up the ocean into a little hill... When it hits the coast, it creates a storm surge."

The effect of these storm surges, essentially 'tidal waves',

can be just as, if not more, devastating than the hurricane themselves. Described by American news network Fox as "the most destructive natural disaster in US history", Hurricane Katrina's considerable damage to the East coast of the US was severely worsened by the storm surge.

Storm surges can be just as devastating as the hurricanes themselves This surge brought surge of 24.8 feet high across a 20 mile stretch of coast, along with further damage along more than 90 further miles of coastline. Hurricane Sandy's storm surge peaked considerably lower, at 14 feet high, yet still bringing damage and disruption.

This study also

?

provides additional information pointing towards climate change being at least partially responsible for increases in hurricane frequency and power. It furthers previous research in the area, including that of James Elsner of Florida State University from 2008. Studying cyclone wind speeds between 1981 and 2006, Elsner theorised that the average wind speed increase of these cyclones of 7.8 metres per second, was due at least in part to the warming of the oceans. When commenting on Grinsted's recent study, Elsner stated that he "liked the approach taken" and that the

Hurricane Katrina's damage to the East coast was severely worsened by the storm surge

conclusions are consistent with previous studies.

Earlier, in 2006, conclusions were also drawn from a panel of 125 experts, stating that whilst evidence remains generally inconclusive, increasing damage from tropical cyclones and hurricanes is to a large extent, a result of human activity and global warming.

Despite inconclusive studies unable to provide a definitive answer, the worryingly positive correlation between increasing human activity and increasing hurricane frequency and power continues. As overall ocean and planet temperature continue to rise, further study will be needed in order to determine how greatly our actions affect such natural disasters.

Science 18–21

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddsci

21

Sweden runs out of rubbish Jacob Dirnhuber Science Writer

While countries like the United States and India struggle to deal with the sheer quantity of rubbish produced by their citizens, Sweden is experiencing a different problem: not enough waste.

Scandinavia as a whole has developed a reputation as one of the most progressive regions in Europe, with environmental health high on the agenda for Sweden in particular.

The Swedish government started an incineration programme in 1941 to combat the rising levels of garbage, and the process has been fine-tuned to the degree that waste incinerators are actually used to generate power; 250,000 homes and a fifth of the district heating programme take their energy from incinerators.

However, Sweden isn't generating enough waste to generate maximum power, so the government has resorted to importing it from other countries. In 2011

alone, Sweden imported over 800,000 tonnes of rubbish to generate power.

One of the most prolific donors is Norway, which pays the Swedish government to take waste otherwise destined for landfill.

The Swedish government then send back any toxic by-products and ash from the furnaces, which they cannot deal with sustainably.

Naples generates more waste per square metre than anywhere else in the world The United States sends only 37% of its waste to be recycled; Sweden by contrast recycles 96%. Strict laws on waste management mean that the population has no choice but to recycle most of their waste. Companies frequently hire private contractors to deal with their rubbish in an environmentally friendly way.

Deliberately high garbage collection fees make it uneconomical for the citizens to send their waste to landfill. Environmental awareness campaigns and easyaccess recycling stations are used to ensure that Sweden's citizens know exactly what to do with their waste. It is now illegal for corporations or citizens to send organic waste to landfill. Those who don’t send organic waste to specialist centres to be converted into compost, biogas and fertiliser can expect heavy fines.

One of the countries of particular interest to Sweden is Italy, with the southern Italy in particular struggling to manage its waste. Naples, the largest city in the notoriously poor South, generates more waste per square metre than anywhere else in the world. This is due to a combination of public disregard and a waste management system that has been crippled by the influence of the Mafia. It is not uncommon to see rubbish piled several metres

high in the streets. Swedish politicians hope that the Neapolitans decide to change this state of affairs by exporting their rubbish to Sweden.

However, Catarina Ostlund, a senior environmental advisor to Sweden's government, believes that countries such as Italy will soon see the value of schemes like Sweden's, and decide

against exportation. "I would say maybe in the future, this waste will be valued even more," she said. "So maybe you could sell your waste, because there will be a shortage of resources within the world."

Sub-saharan Africa’s population crisis David Mason Science Writer

Our planet's resources can just about provide for the 6 to 7 billion global population. But recent figures suggest numbers may be rising faster than anticipated and the countries influencing it are in the developing world.

Africa's population is rapidly increasing by the year, at a pace that worries the UN. Their medium prediction for the continent puts its population at 3.6 billion by 2100. This will raise its global share from 12% to about a third.

Africa's average family size stands at 4.7 children per woman. But what causes concerns for international powers is the fact that, currently, it is the only continent where the population is predicted to keep growing beyond 2100.

A lack of birth control appears to be a major cause of the problem. Africa remains the region with the lowest use of contraceptives. Only 29% of married women of reproductive age figures suggest use them as opposed to global average of 69%. The high demand for children is also a contributing factor to the rocketing population. With these seemingly insurmountable problems growing, the UN's top estimate has the population at 5.2.

These predictions arrive at

the end of a 20-year period that has seen 3% annual population growth in sub-Saharan countries.

The growth may be a contributory factor behind the fact that Africans, on average, are 22% poorer than they were in the mid-70s.

Africa's population is rapidly increasing at a pace that worries the UN In Uganda these problems are alarmingly apparent. Last year the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) put fertility rates at an incredibly high 6.2 children per woman. Furthermore the United Nations estimates that Uganda's population will soar from 33 million people in 2011 to 94 million in 2050 – a stunning rise by all accounts.

The semi-arid countries bordering the Sahara, known as the Sahel, are predicted to double their population numbers by 2050.

As resources stretch to their limits, environmental groups foresee that a further threat will have developed to complicate matters.

Global warming will contribute to create an environment similar to Darfur or South Sudan, where resource battles multiply daily.

In order to battle these problems, the need for a biologi-

cally sustainable economy has been advocated by a new report.

Launched by the Royal Society last April, 'People and the Planet' outlines further ideas from the international Community as to how to raise the standard of living of those living below the poverty line. According to the World Bank's poverty measurement team, led by colleague Martin Ravallion, which defines this as living on or below $1.25 a day or less, this encompasses 47.5% of Africans.

Whilst also studying the links between global population and the strains it puts on our finite resources, the contributors to “People and the Planet’ also suggest the most developed and emerging countries must stabilise and reduce material consumption levels.

Africa remains the region with the lowest use of contraceptives They also suggest political leadership combined with financial commitment are needed for family planning and reproductive health programmes.

If implemented, the article predicts these changes can curb the rise in this potential catastrophic population rise. Already, coun-

tries where family planning policies were previously highly controversial have made them a reality. South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe have particularly successful family planning programmes.

The Sahel is predicted to double its population by 2050 Thanks to schemes like the Millennium Development goals, outlined by 140 world leaders in 2010, poverty, equality and sustainability are being combated officially and efficiently. Achieving these goals becomes a closer reality every year as it becomes more apparent that family planning plays a central role in improving maternal and child health.

A reassuring sign is the acknowledgment of African governments that rapid population growth is impeding the economic growth desperately needed.

Rwanda is a prime example of this proactive approach, seeing one of the fastest increases in contra-

ceptive use in history with use standing at 45% of married women in 2010 up from 6% in 2000.

The Royal Society report suggests that a cost of between 6 and 7 billion dollars per annum is needed to offer family planning schemes through the right clinical, commercial and community channels. They present this sort of intervention as vital to curbing population figures throughout the next 100 years. The figures suggest that an overall investment of $10 billion per year would make moves to achieve a manageable population of between 6 and 7 billion. The report says this sort of intervention could avert the impending population problems of the next century. What is clear is that it is necessary if standards of living are to rise consistently amongst Africa’s poorest.

25

Societies 25–27

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddsoc

Are you CONVINCED? The Cardiff Christian Unions' Mission Week CONVINCED? is nearly upon us. Societies writer Alice Schweitzer makes an introduction and gives us the low-down on events

B

efore you roll your eyes and quickly turn over the page, take a minute to contemplate why I would decide to commit such a catastrophic act of social suicide in writing this article.

You may well believe that you can distinguish us by our sock and sandals combos, our elbowpatched jumpers, our inept social skills, and - according to the coal man who is currently walking through my kitchen - us driving around in Nissan Micras with fish stickers attached on the back and sporting huge bushy beards.

Admittedly, this description may be a little hyperbolic: I have made us sound like the illegitimate children of Father Christmas and a Geography teacher; however, how many of you have conjured up an image of a Christian from this description?

If you can, suspend this image of us, and ask the question; which philosophy for life are you convinced by?

Questioning our existence feels like a rite of passage for students. Debating long into the night about why and how we exist seems almost compulsory.

But have you come to a truly satisfying conclusion?

And as Christmas will be soon upon us, I feel that I am at liberty to broach this subject. You may be attending your little sister’s Nativity in a few weeks or maybe you can just easily recollect wearing the tea-towel on your head, the scratchy tinsel halos, and the unimpressed expressions of the boys as they realise they have to wear dress for the next forty minutes.

My nativity

resulted in the baby Jesus being torn apart by Mary and Joseph because they had had a falling out about who should hold the baby.

(It didn’t help matters that they were cousins.) But anyway, have you ever contemplated that there may be some truth amongst the foil covered stars and the cotton wool sheep that line the stage?

Questioning our existence feels like a rite of passage for students, but which life philosophy has you convinced?

Perhaps you have come across the word CONVINCED bouncing around Cardiff? Between the 25th-30rd November all the surrounding Christian Unions throughout Cardiff are joining together; it’s a chance to give into that niggling urge to debate long into the night about our existence, ask questions and find out for yourself if there’s any substance to what us Christians believe.

Stop by the Convinced gazebo on Park Place for a chat or just the opportunity to grab a free hot drink and cake on a cold November morning! We’ll also have a Question Sofa so come ask any question – big or small, profound or trivial. Our lunch bars at Koko Gorilaz are back too!

Come along Monday to Friday at 1pm for a free cooked lunch and a talk about what God is like – made up, boring, unloving, arrogant, irrelevant? Decide for yourself!

Here’s what some of the Christian Union's have to say about their contributions to the week:

ATRiuM: “We’re going to be putting on two lunch bars answering two of the biggest questions and objections to God being real. The first about how a loving God could allow suffering and the second about whether Jesus was the man he claimed to be. We are an Arts University so will have some interactive ‘artsy’ activities in the foyer, opportunities to look at photos, think about famous quotes and say what individuals believe or think about different topics.”

Healthcare: “We'll be having a series of informal lunchtime talks, looking at some of the big questions and how they are

relevant to healthcare students.

Come along and enjoy a free lunch and chance to ask questions.”

Royal Welsh: “We've got a really exciting week in store at Royal Welsh – Dessert Parlours from Monday to Thursday lunchtimes with David Uffindel speaking about big biblical topics, such as “Convinced science has disproved God?”, designed to go hand in hand with the evening talks at Highfields focusing on the identity of Jesus. Also on Friday we will be having a Grilla-Christian, it should prove to be a really exciting end to a great week!”

Cardiff Met: “Look out for Cardiff Met. The Christian Union will be running a number of ‘Convinced?’ events on both our campuses. We plan to have coffee talks to hear how Jesus relates to Derren Brown and Katy Perry.

There will also be opportunities to hear testimonies, take part in Fifa games and dodgeball tournaments. Find us around campus; we’ll be wearing our T-shirts, grab a free cuppa, a flyer and chat to us to find out more.

Oh, and don’t forget to look out for Wally to win prizes!”

Welsh CU: “We at the Welsh Christian Union are very much looking forward to the Cardiff Big mission – Convinced. We’re hoping to fill your bellies with beautiful home-made food in the evenings, with a lovely time to chat and enjoy in a Welsh scene.

Then we’ll go to the main meeting

together in the evening.”

As you can see this week is going to be packed full of events all around Cardiff, and you probably won’t need to do your weekly food shop!

As well as these day time events, in the evenings all the Uni’s will be joining together at Highfields (Monthermer Road) to hear some talks by the renowned speaker Lindsay Brown.

Here’s the itinerary for the evenings at Highfields: Monday ‘Convinced Jesus was just a good guy: so what's the big deal?’

Tuesday ‘Convinced I want to be happy: so why does Jesus fit in?’

Wednesday ‘Convinced we live in a messed up world: but how can we fix it?’

Thursday ‘Convinced I want to be free: but I don't want to be religious.’

Friday ‘Convinced I don't need to bother with Jesus: he's got nothing to do with me.’

From the 25th-30th November Cardiff is going to be loaded with the big questions.

Embrace this chance, embrace your student status and come along to find out for yourself!

Where else are you going to be given the opportunity to sit on a sofa, in the street, under a gazebo, with a mug of tea, and just chat away?

26 / Societies

Reflections upon a Week of Charity After the success of their Charity Week, a collaboration of the Islamic, Arab, Malaysian and Ahlul Bayt Societies, Islamic Soc Vice-President Khadija Jamal gives her thoughts on the week

A

wesome event...

Hasn’t been this buzzing for a while! Congrats to the hard-working individuals who made the evening rock," said an ex-Isoc President from many moons ago on Twitter, upon attending the Eid Extravaganza event 2012.

"There’s just this bubbling atmosphere," one young lady told me, who a number of years ago had held the same position as my own in the Islamic Society committee. "It feels like old times," she said, met with a chorus of agreement.

Jewellery and clothing adorned stallholders' tables. Canvasses with funky calligraphy outlined in glitter stood on display, while smaller versions of such artistic handwriting were given out on pieces of card, in the names of those requested. A couple, both professional photographers, clicked away on their cameras in the corner at their own designated booth. Coloured strips of orange and blue lay neatly upon round table tops, covered in silver confetti and floral centrepieces.

As volunteers hopped from one centrepiece to the next with their finishing touches, students began to steadily trickle through the door, to be greeted by intensely strong coffee from the Arab Society, coupled with rich sweets from the Ahlul Bayt Society.

It was the Wednesday evening

Over £7,000 was raised in one night alone of Charity Week, October 29th to November 4th; the Islamic Society’s annual week-

long campaign of back-toback fundraising events. This particular event, a dinner with over 200 guests, was something different to the normal arrangements. For the first time, different societies had come together with great celebratory purposes; the Muslim religious

translation displayed alongside such that each video clip came together as one message about charity giving. Over £7,000 was raised that one night alone; from donations, auction bidding and ticket profits. That figure is still rising.

Unashamedly, I’ve painted

dare not ask. Midnight Skype meetings and endless texting (reminders to other committee members, publicising events to members, more reminders, and some more reminders) became the norm as sleep went out of the window. I was repeatedly rather pleased at being able to answer

festival of Eid had passed only a few days earlier and all were still very happy to carry on with the festivities. Across cultures, backgrounds and races, it was an event in celebration of diversity as well as unity. A member of the Malaysian Society performed a traditional martial arts routine on stage. On screen, different individuals spoke a range of languages with the English

a picturesque scene for that is what I would like to remember the events by, but of course it wasn’t perfect. There were moments when frustration, tiredness and worry built up to the extent that strangling a cumbersome colleague seemed like a great form of stress relief.

Without a shadow of a doubt, I know others must have felt the same way about me, but I

any of the questions asked by my tutor on placement given the circumstances. The fact that the other students had just the same tendency to nod off as I did is another discussion.

Over 50 volunteers arrived at our initial meeting, with many others dropping in to help with various events throughout the week. Cake stalls were set up at various points on campus, and

a rather interesting chilli-eating contest and cinnamon challenge was posed to passers-by. Silly challenges also embraced the girls-only Pamper Night, at which contestants struggled in trying to eat pieces of chocolate with a knife and fork, while others donated towards manicures, facials and henna. Dressed with the official Charity Week T-shirts or in a teddy bear costume, volunteers also headed towards the city centre on multiple days for street collections: another highlight of the week.

On reflection, the success of such a project as this does not come in a numerical value. It does not lie in the number of pounds that were raised nor in the number of people who attended the events. "Buzzing" was how it was described, and such an atmosphere is only created when people collectively put time, effort and hard work towards a cause, without themselves having the need to be applauded or recognised. I was repeatedly and frequently humbled by the level of commitment that was given by individuals, both from the committee members of different societies as well as volunteers.

Such efforts are something that this community of students are to be proud of, representing a beautiful aspect of a religion so easily misunderstood in modern society.

All money raised is to be given to the Islamic Relief Charity Week project – for funding projects with orphans and needy children around the world.

Societies 25–27

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddsoc

Get back to your roots!

Amber Wheatley

Societies Writer Cardiff African Caribbean Society (ACS) is a lively, up-and-coming society that is trying to make a name for itself – not just among African and Caribbean students, but in Cardiff University as a whole. One of the ways they try to achieve this is by holding events that showcase African and Caribbean culture. This October, Cardiff ACS hosted ‘Roots’, a celebration of Black History month.

‘Roots’ was a great cultural experience and showcased talents from across the globe: there was singing, dancing, poetry, rap and, of course, food.

One of the main goals of Cardiff ACS is to make students of African and Caribbean heritage comfortable and at home while at University, as well

as providing opportunities for them to make an impact of their own upon their new home. ‘Roots’ gave ACS members and supporters the chance to express what it really means to get back to your roots, whether through Caribbean poetry, Welsh folk songs, gospel music, spoken word or just having a chat over some delicious home-cooked baked chicken and jollof rice. ‘Roots’ was truly an unforgettable evening.

‘Roots’ was a great cultural experience and showcased talents from across globe If you missed out on this cultural explosion, Cardiff ACS also runs regular events, such as movie nights that happen once a month; aerobics classes to wonderful Caribbean ‘soca’ music; debates and

Blank Verse club nights. In addition, their upcoming events include a Christmas dinner and – the icing on the cake – the ACS Culture Show in the spring, so keep an eye out for that.

If you want to be a part of something different, try a new culture or share your own, Cardiff ACS welcomes you with open arms.

Blank Verse is an all-female, non-auditioning choir, aimed at being a fun extracurricular activity for all female students, whether they study music or a different subject.

No prior singing experience is required! They have socials aplenty and cost £4 to join for the year! Check out their website on Campus Groups for more information or to get in touch with them!

27

28 / Taf-Od

Cytundeb gyllideb rhwng llywodraeth y Blaid Lafur a Phlaid Cymru Cerith Rhys Jones Taf-od

O taf D

Mae’r rhan fwyaf ohonom yn siwr o fod yn rhy brysur gyda’n traethodau i gofio beth oedd yn digwydd yr adeg hon yr wythnos ddiwethaf heb son am yr adeg hon y llynedd, ond dewch inni geisio. Cynigiaf rywfaint o gymorth ichi gofio. Fis Tachwedd diwethaf, yr hyn a ddigwyddodd oedd cytundeb rhwng y Blaid Lafur a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol ym Mae Caerdydd i basio cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 2012-13. Cofio? Atgof arall, efallai. Beth am yr £20 miliwn a lwyddodd y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol ei wthio mewn i’r gyllideb ar gyfer y Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion? Ie, dyna fe.

Bryd hynny, fe alwodd Plaid Cymru hynny’n ‘ddêl rhad’, gyda llefarydd y Blaid ar yr economi Alun Ffred Jones yn duwed mai’r hyn a oedd angen oedd cyllideb i amddiffyn a chreu swyddi.

Ymosododd y Ceidwadwyr ar y gyllideb oherwydd ei ‘thoriadau ffyrnig i’r Gwasanaeth Iechyd.’

Neidiwch ymlaen i eleni, a dyma ni eto. Ond, y tro hwn, nid y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol sy’n chwarae Is-gapten i Gapten Llafur – Plaid Cymru sy’n gwneud.

Rhyddhawyd ddatganiad gan y Prif Weinidog Carwyn Jones ac arweinydd Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood yn cyhoeddi y caiff ‘£20 miliwn ychwanegol ei adlewyrchu yn y Gyllideb Ddrafft...y bydd yn cefnogi prentisiaethau yng Nghymru, wedi ei dargaedu yn arbennig at y sawl yn categori oed 16-24.’

Mae £20 miliwn hefyd wedi ei ddynodi yng ngwariant dangosol y flwyddyn ariannol 2014-15, gyda’r posibilrwydd o godi holl wariant ar brentisiaethau rhwng 2013 a 2015 o £60 miliwn gyda chymorth ariannol wrth yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Cyhoeddodd y datganiad bod £10 miliwn o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf hefyd wedi ei ddyn-

odi ar gyfer Parc Gwyddoniaeth dan arweiniad Prifysgol Bangor, yn cyd-weithio gyda Phrifysgol Aberystwyth, rhywbeth fydd yn plesio Canghellor Prifysgol Bangor ac AC Dwyfor Meirionnydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas, mae’n siwr.

Pawb yn hapus, felly. Nid cweit.

Er i ddatganiad swyddogol y Ceidwadwyr i’r wasg farnu dêl

harweinydd Kirsty Williams na fyddai ei phlaid ‘yn cefnogi cyllideb nad yw’n mynd digon pell at gau’r bwlch cyllid gyda Lloegr – gan ddechrau gyda’r plant sydd arnynt angen yr help ychwanegol fwyaf’, ond nododd serch hynny ei bod yn ‘galonogol bod Llywodraeth Cymru’n ymddangos fel pe bai’n fodlon symud ymlaen gyda’n syniad [o gronfa er mwyn

gyda’r Llywodraeth mewn dim mwy na hanner awr yn ôl Golygydd Gwleidyddol BBC Wales Betsan Powys, ond roedd hefyd wedi ennill yr hawl i ganu’i chlod ei hunan ym maes diweithdra ieuenctid. Mae’r blaid wedi bod wrthi ers misoedd yn dweud nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud digon i daclo diweithdra ieuenctid, a nawr gallwn nhw

‘rhad ac ail-radd’ lle ‘prynwyd Plaid Cymru am lawer llai na’r disgwyl mewn cyfnewid, sydd fwy neu lai’n ail-radd’, yr oedd gan Weinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Iechyd ddadonsoddiad mwy graffig o’r cytundeb, gan ddweud ar Twitter; ‘Plaid back the Welsh Labour Government’s budget is like a dog returning to its vomit.’

Delwedd hynod o atynnol, mae’n siwr y cytunwch.

Yn ddoeth, efallai, yr oedd y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn fwy gwylaidd yn eu sylwadau am y cytundeb. Dywedodd eu

rhoi mynediad i gleifion Cymreig i driniaeth na fyddai fel arfer ar gael dan y Gwasanaeth Iechyd].’

Nad oedd Llafur yn fodlon derbyn ‘cynnydd sylweddol yn y cyllido ar gyfer plant tlotaf ein cymdeithas’, mynnodd Kirsty Williams.

Serch trosiadau – ahem – diddorol y Ceidwadwyr a gwrthodiad y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol i gefnogi’r dêl, bu’n ddiwrnod da i arweinydd Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood.

Nid yn unig oedd ei phlaid hi wedi llwyddo sicrhau cytundeb

ddweud eu bod wedi ‘sicrhau creu miloedd o brentisiaethau i bobl ifanc, a swyddi y mae mawr eu hangen, a mae’r camau a gymerodd Plaid Cymru heddiw yn golygu ein bod yn cyflawni ein haddewid i ymladd dros swyddi a dyfodol i’n pobl ifanc.’

Ond, mae’r gorau i ddod i Blaid Cymru eto. Llynedd, yn y gytundeb rhwng Llafur a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, fe gafodd Kirsty Williams ei £20 miliwn ar gyfer y Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion, ond bod ei phlaid yn pleidleisio i blaid cyllideb y Llywodraeth.

Eleni, ni fydd Plaid Cymru’n gwneud hynny. Yr hyn sy’n rhaid iddynt hwy wneud yw dim mwy nag ymatal ar y bleidlais. Nid oes rhaid iddynt gefnogi’r gyllideb fel y cyfryw – ond bodloni iddi basio. Fel hynny, fe gawn nhw eu £20 miliwn ar gyfer prentisiaethau a’u Parc Gwyddoniaeth £10 miliwn, ond ni fyddant wedi cefnogi unrhyw beth arall yn y gyllideb, yn enwedig y ‘toriadau ffyrnig’ hynny i’r Gwasanaeth Iechyd yr oedd y Ceidwadwyr yn son amdanynt.

Diwrnod da i Leanne Wood, felly, ond beth am Carwyn Jones.

Iddo fe hefyd, am wn i. 1:1 iddi hi, 2:1 addawol iddo fe. Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran y Llywodraeth bod y Prif Weindiog yn ‘hapus iawn’ gyda’r gytundeb hon a oedd ‘yn llwyr gydymffurfio gyda’r hyn rydym eisoes yn ei wneud.’ Pan ffurfiodd y blaid Lafur weinyddiaeth leiafrifol y llynedd, fe ddywedodd Carwyn Jones y byddai’n ymestyn allan i bleidiau arall a dyma ni, ddeunaw mis yn hwyrach, a mae Carwyn Jones eisoes wedi cyrraedd cytundeb gyllidebol gyda dwy phlaid wahanol. Wedi dweud hynny, does fawr o siawns iddo gyrraedd gytundeb gyda’r Ceidwadwyr y flwyddyn nesaf! Parhaodd llefarydd ar ran y Llywodraeth ddweud ‘ein bod ni fel Llywodraeth yn wir i’n gair.’

Gall Carwyn Jones symud ymlaen nawr felly, yn ymddangos fel arweinydd cryf sydd wedi llwyddo i gyrraedd cytundeb gynnar heb fawr o drafferth er mwyn pasio’i gyllideb, i gerfio’r hyn fydd ei Lywodraeth yn ei wneud nesaf.

Gall Leanne Wood fynd ymlaen i ledaenu’r neges mai Plaid Cymru a sicrhaodd y cyllido ychwanegol hynny ar gyfer prentisiaethau a swyddi, rhywbeth fydd o fudd mawr i’r Blaid ar stepyn drws yn ystod etholiadau’r dyfodol, mae’n siwr.

Straeon OD o bob rhan o'r byd... Wythnos yma, jiráff sy'n helpu pobl yn yr Alban...

M

ae dyn yn yr Alban, sydd yn teithio o gwmpas yn helpu pobl trwy gynnig bananas a photeli dwr iddynt, yn ogystal â chasglu ysbwriel ar draeth a rhoi pres i famau mewn ysbytai yn dweud ei fod yn gwneud hyn i gyd er mwyn teimlo'n dda yn ei hun. Mae'r dyn yn gwneud yr holl weithredoedd hyn, tra ei fod wedi gwisgo fel jiráff. Yn defnyddio'r enw "the good giraffe", mae'r dyn sy'n byw

yn Dundee wedi cael ei weld yn rhoi help llaw i bobl yn Stonehaven, Aberdeen, Forfar a Glasgow ymysg nifer o lefydd eraill.

Mae'n debyg ei fod yn teithio'r wlad yng ngheir pobl sy'n fodlon ei bigo i fynnu, er ei fod yn aml yn cael trafferth darganfod car sydd gyda'r lle i'w wddf hir.

Yn y cyfamser, mewn pentref bach yn Ne Rwsia, llwyddodd nain 56 mlwydd oed i gwffio blaidd i ffwrdd gyda bwyall. Wedi iddi glywed llo yn cael ei ymosod, aeth Aishat Maksudova allan i achub yr anifail gyda bwyall yn

ei llaw. Yn anhygoel, llwyddodd iddi ddianc yr ymosodiad gydag ychydig o anafiadau oedd angen triniaeth yn yr ysbyty, ble ar y llaw arall, fe laddwyd y blaidd.

Mae bachgen ysgol 13 oed yn Lloegr wedi cael ei wahardd rhag tyfu mwstas ar gyfer 'Movember' oherwydd bod gweddill ei gydddisgyblion methu a thyfu mwstas. Fe ddywedodd y bachgen, sydd yn honedig wedi bod yn eillio ers iddo fod yn naw oed, ei fod wedi ei siomi oherwydd roedd yn credu y buasai ei fwstas wedi codio llawer o arian i'r achos.

Taf-Od 28–29

Dydd Llun Tachwedd y 19eg 2012 | @taf_od

29

Dawns ryng-golegol hynod lwyddiannus unwaith eto Dewi Preece

Llywydd Y Gym Gym Fe ddaeth yr amser unwaith eto i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg Prifysgolion Cymru fynychu Aberystwyth ar gyfer y ddawns fawreddog.

Er i’r ddau fws gyrraedd cefn yr undeb yn agos at awr yn hwyr, roedd hwyliau’r criw yn dal i fod yn hwylus. Bu’r cwrw a’r diod yn llifo wrth i’r bws ymlwybro tuag at ein arhosiad cyntaf ym Morrisons Caerfyrddin, i godi rhagor o aelodau’r gymdeithas.Yn anffodus, ni lwyddodd aelodau’r ail fws ddal eu bledrau’n hir wedi’r arhosiad cyntaf, ac fe ddisgynnodd 46 aelod oddi ar y bws wrth ochr arwydd Llanwnen. Yn ddi-seremonïaidd, fe sicrhaodd y Gym-Gym eu bod yn marcio’u cyrhaeddiad yn Ngheredigion!

fe gadawyd y bws am adre gyda 2 aelod o'r gymdeithas ar goll Wedi cyrraedd Aberystwyth am 22:00, a gollwng ein bagiau yn y gawell chwaraeon, nos Wener Aberystwyth oedd yn ein gwynebu. Cawsom flas gryno o holl dafarndau traddodiadol y dref.

Cocktails y Cambrian, Vodka 33’s Academi – ond ychydig o’r diodydd a demptiwyd y myfyrwyr Cymreig. Ein blas gyntaf o’r elfen “rhyng-golaidd” oedd yn

nhafarn y Llew Du yn nghanol y dre, gyda’r tafarn yn llawn i’r dim gyda myfyrwyr meddwol o bedwar ban Cymru, yn rhoi cur pen i weinyddwyr y bar. Roedd y Llew du wedi ein paratoi yn berffaith ar gyfer promenade i lawr i’r pier, i fynychu clwb enwoca’r dref – Pier Pressure. Ond doedd dim arwydd o unrhyw bwysau ar unrhyw ysgwydd, wrth i fyfyrwyr y brifddinas ddawnsio hyd oriau mân y bore. Heblaw ambell ferch blwyddyn cyntaf yn hiraethu am y môr, ac yn mynnu troedio’r traeth, fe gyrhaeoddod pawb eu sachau cysgu’n ddiogel.

Gan nad oedd unrhyw adloniant yn y gawell, fe gymerodd Dylan Evans a Dewi Jones y mater i’w dwylo eu hunain, a gwneud eu rhieni’n falch, trwy rhedeg lapiau noeth o’r gampfa. Ymdrech dde-

wr gan y bechgyn o dan amodau oer y gawell…

Unwaith eto, fe brofodd y ddawns rhyng-golegol traddodiadol i fod yn lwyddiant ysgubol Er y gobeithion o gael noson dda o gwsg, fe aeth larwm y gawell chwaraeon yn brydlon am 07:30, at anfodlonrwydd y myfyrwyr blinedig. Ond roedd y dechrau cynnar yn hollbwysig i’r bechgyn peldroed a rygbi, wrth iddynt baratoi at chwarae yn erbyn timoedd y Geltaidd. Er i aelodau’r ddau dim fod yn dioddef o effaith y nos Wener, fe lwyddodd chwaraewyr peldroed y Gym-Gym gyrraedd y cae 3G

erbyn amser cychwyn. Roedd y Gym-Gym yn dioddef o ddiffyg eilyddion, a diffyg gol-geidwad, ond yn dal i gystadlu cystal ag unrhyw dim sobor. Wedi gem gystadleuol iawn, fe gollodd y bechgyn 14-8 i’r Geltaidd. Ond buddugoliaeth foesol wrth ystyried cyflwr y bechgyn llai na 10 awr ynghynt!

Yna, i fechgyn rygbi Caerdydd, yn gwisgo’u crysau newydd sbon.

Rhwng y dyfarnwr, ac amodau’r cae mwdlyd, bu’r gem yn un hynod o flêr, ond eto yn hynod o gyffrous. Fe aeth y gêm i’r chwaraead olaf, gyda’r ddau tim yn gyfartal ar 10-10. I floedd torf y brifddinas, fe lwyddodd y Gym-Gym orfodi camgymeriad o fechgyn y Geltaidd, a rhoi cyfle i sereny-gêm, Carwyn ‘Valley’ Jones, ollwng ar y bel i sgorio cais ar y chwiban olaf. Sgôr derfynol, 17-10 i’r Gym-Gym! Yn anffodus, ni lwyddodd y tîm cenedlaethol ddilyn esiampl y bechgyn, wrth iddynt ddangos perfformiad hynod siomedig yn erbyn pumas Arianin. Ond ni fyddai hyn yn digaloni yr un aelod, wrth i’r môr o grysau glas golau ddisgyn ar dafarnau Aberystwyth.

O dan arweiniad ysbrydoledig Gruffydd Arfon, fe ymbaratodd criw Caerdydd ar gyfer nos Sadwrn Aberystwyth. Fe fanteisiodd economi lleol Aberystwyth ar y cannoedd o fyfyrwyr ychwanegol yn y dre, wrth i bawb grwydro o

un tafarn i’r llall. Terfyn pererindod y myfyrwyr oedd yn nôl ar ben rhyw Penglais, yn undeb myfyrwyr Aberystwyth. Gyda Meic Stevens yn chwarae a chanu (tra’n gymharol sobor), roedd myfyrwyr Cymraeg Cymru gyfan wrth eu boddau. Fe gynrychiolwyd Caerdydd yn wych ar lwyfan gan Cai a Rhydian fel aelodau o fand Hud¸ a gan Daniel Skyrme yn ei ddillad isaf, i bleser eithaf y dorf. Er i Skyrme gael ei dynnu oddi ar y llwyfan, roedd y gwen yn dal i fodoli o glust i glust.

Risg fwyaf y daith oedd y bws adre, yn gadael yr undeb am 02:00, wedi’r gig. Er ymdrechion gorau’r pwyllgor i gael pawb oedd angen i fynd ar y bws, fe gadawyd y bws am adre gyda 2 aelod o’r gymdeithas ar goll; Llio Mererid Jones o’r flwyddyn gyntaf, a Deio ap Gwyndaf o’r ail flwyddyn. I lawenydd y merched, fe ymddangosodd Llio allan o arhosfa bws wrth i ni yrru allan o Aberystwyth! Ond i Deio, (a’i ddarganfuwyd yn nhai bach yr undeb yn edrych yn unig, ac hynod o sâl), bu rhaid iddo weddïo i’r Duwiau rhyng-gol i’w achub. Ni ddaeth Duw, ond fe ymddangosodd Owain "P i achub y noson, a chanfod llety i Deio.

Unwaith eto, fe brofodd y ddawns rhyng-golegol traddodiadol i fod yn lwyddiant ysgubol.

Roll on 2013…

30 / Puzzles

Sudoku

Word ladders

INTERMEDIATE

Can you transform each of the top words into the word on the bottom? You can only change one letter at a time. Don't change the order of the letters. Can you transform each word in eight steps or fewer?

CHALLENGING

Rhys’ Riddles You, Steve and 98 others are waiting in line to board a 100seat airplane. Steve is the first person in the line. He gets on the plane, but suddenly can't remember what his seat number is, so he picks a seat at random. After that, each person who gets on the plane sits in their assigned seat if it's available, otherwise they will choose an open seat at random to sit in.

The flight is fully booked and you are last in line. What is the probability that you get to sit in your assigned seat?

INTERMEDIATE

CHALLENGING

Last week's riddle answer Steve cuts link three of the chain and uses this to pay for night 1. On night 2, he gives the bottom two links and gets the first link back. He uses the single link again on night 3. On night 4, he pays with the top four joined links and gets the first three back. He then repeats the method used in nights 1–3 to make the full payment over days 5,6 and 7.

Listings

Monday November 19th 2012 | @mediacsu

31

Listings November 19th – 25th

Cinema Argo Ben Affleck directs and stars in the incredible true story of a secret mission to rescue six Americans trapped in Iran.

Theatre Act One Society Romulet and Julio November 22nd CF10 Café Cardiff Students' Union £4

Clubs The Lash Every Wednesday Between free giveaways and drink offers, the Lash is the place to be.

10pm–3am

Music Chapter Arts Centre Glen Manby Quarter Sunday Free

Sport 33–36

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddsport

33

Cardiff windsurfers start season in full flight Windsurfing Club president Will Jones gives his account of life on the water as the team compete in the prestigious Puravida Cornwall Classic in Gwithian

H

eat after heat went by and the team continued to battle through. Many heads were turn as, one-by-one, the team mercilessly knocked out favourite seeds in competition. Day two came to a close with the weekend’s competition finished in the dark and the Cardiff sailors much more satisfied with their results.

Jony Price topped the pile finishing an impressive sixth overall.

The Student Windsurf Association (SWA) series is now underway and the team have made a solid start to the season, with several impressive individual results, most notably with Tom Firth, Jony Price and Will Jones winning the team racing at the recent SWA event hosted by Bristol University, taking home a new board for the club, courtesy of tour sponsors Boardwise.

The club is not exclusively for advanced sailors. With several qualified instructors among its members, the club runs regular trips to a local reservoir, where they provide instruction, working towards courses recognised by the RYA (the governing body for windsurfing instruction) and award certificates to those who are successful. The club's goal for the year is to take all its members who joined as beginners in Freshers' to becoming qualified instructors by the end of the year.

They will then be able to pass on their knowledge to future members in years to come.

Regardless of level, members

has the best weather forecast), the pressure is on to perform at an exceptionally high level, but this shouldn’t be a problem at the local spots the team all know and love. With competitors coming from universities nationwide to compete, it promises to be an impressive spectacle.

Current sponsors of the Cardiff event include Puravida Board Riders (a Cardiff-based windsurf and surf retailer that is the main sponsor to the SWA Wave Series and has supported the Cardiff club for many years), Fanatic/ North (one of the world's leading board and sail manufacturers), K3 (one of the UK’s newest and most exciting windsurf manufacturers), BWA and RedBull. The event expects to attract all the top students from around the UK and a smattering of celebrities from the windsurf world. are encouraged to take part and compete at all the SWA events throughout the year, where – alongside advanced – intermediate and beginner competitions run as standard. With the emphasis much more on fun than competition, and some awesome prizes up for grabs (ranging from wetsuits to new boards), you would be mad not to get involved.

Not all prizes at SWA events are for competitions. By volunteering her services as an instructor at the recent National Student Windsurf Festival, Aussie Kiss (which saw around 700 attendees), and maintaining an exceptional level of enthusiasm to help

the 200+ beginners at the event onto the water for the first time, the club's Vice-President, Sooz Kellegher, was recognised as the best of the 50+ instructors and rewarded with a free next-level instructor course and a ticket to Beach Break Live.

There is a lot more in store for the rest of the year. A packed calendar of events will be keeping the club busy. Excitement is already brewing for the Student Series coming to Cardiff when the club hosts its own leg of the tour in February. With the event happening in the team's back yard at Porthcawl, the Gower or Pembrokshire (whichever beach

Cleverly retains WBO title in Los Angeles Jacob Dirnhuber

Sport Writer Former Cardiff University student Nathan Cleverly has retained his WBO title after defeating Shawn Hawk on his debut fight in the United States.

The 25-year-old boxer's superior speed of hand helped him floor his opponent three times before the referee called an end to proceedings in the eighth round.

Cleverly was originally scheduled to fight Ryan Coyne, but after a legal dispute with promoter Don King, Coyne was replaced

by Hawk.

Cleverly's belt was carried to the ring by Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones and American actor Mickey Rourke at the Staples Center, a touch that delighted the Welshman.

"Mickey is a cracking guy and Tom is a Welsh legend who is known and respected around the

world. Although it was quite surreal, my mum loves Tom Jones and she's well chuffed.

"It was an honour to have them both in my team and I can't thank them enough for wanting to help me make a name for myself in America."

Cleverly's performance has given him a platform to crack the lucrative US market, according to promoter Richard Schaefer. "Nathan made a great first impression in the United States and first impressions count", Schaefer stated.

"It was an electrifying performance and he won over a lot of American fight fans with his style of throwing a lot of punches and pressing his opponent, that's what American fight fans want to see.

"He has proved he is a name in the light heavyweight division to be reckoned with and I can't wait

to have him back here in the very near future.

"Nathan is maybe the most exciting fighter in the division – and the American public now know that Nathan Cleverly is a name in the mix here in the United States."

Cleverly, meanwhile, is optimistic for his future in America, especially after managing to turn an initially hostile crowd. "I got some good exposure on American TV and I think the crowd enjoyed the fight. They booed me as I went in but some fans gave me a standing ovation when I left the ring, which shows my exciting style can win people over here."

Right: Cleverly retains his grip on the WBO light heavyweight belt

34 / Sport

BUCS Review Cardiff Cobras exorcise their Demons Sub-editor Tom Parry-Jones reports on a victorious start to the season for Cardiff Cobras as they

T

he Cardiff Cobras made a winning, albeit belated, start to the 2012/13 season last Sunday, November 11th, beating the Exeter Demons 20-15. Running back Ayo Akintunde and rookie quarterback John Canario ran for a touchdown each, while safety Robin Ford returned an intercepted pass 80 yards for a touchdown to maintain the Cobras’ five-year unbeaten run at ‘Fortress Llanrumney’.

The fixture marked the entry of American football into the BUCS programme, following several years of attempting to integrate the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) into the national university sport calendar.

Following the postponement of the team’s scheduled opening fixture against the Worcester Royals, and the Bath Killer Bees, the UWE Bullets and the Plymouth Blitz already having recorded wins, the team started the game already behind in the race to the South Western Atlantic Conference title.

With the game being played on Remembrance Sunday, it was particularly poignant that memories of last year’s agonising, lastminute 27–26 defeat to Exeter were strong in the minds of the team’s veterans, who were keen to avoid a repeat of that disappointment.

Kick-off was immediately preceded by an immaculately observed minute’s silence to commemorate the anniversary of the end of the First World War, but the first half that followed resembled a massacre more than actual warfare.

Cardiff immediately established their run game, with only

minor handling errors preventing them from ending either of their first two drives with points on the board. Nevertheless, a sack by rookie defensive end Vladislav Reznik set the Cobras up with good field position for the opening drive of the second quarter.

It took the Cobras just five plays to get the ball into the end zone after the change of ends, with passes of 26 yards and 9 yards respectively from Canario to wide receiver Stefan Pollitt setting up a 1-yard touchdown run for Akintunde. However, Pollitt was unable to get sufficient elevation on his extra point attempt and it was blocked to leave the score at 6–0.

Exeter’s next drive saw them come as close to entering Cardiff territory as they would come for the entire half, but a forced fumble – recovered by linebacker Ryan Davies – gave Cardiff the ball. It took the Cobras just eight plays, aided by a 15-yard pass interference penalty, to get the ball into the end zone, the touchdown scored by Canario on a one-yard run. Pollitt’s extra point attempt was again blocked, but Cardiff nevertheless took a 12–0 lead into the half-time break.

Exeter did not pick up a first down for the entirety of the first half, and their play was characterised by a series of inaccurate snaps from their center, some of which went high over the quarterback’s head. However, they turned things around for the start of the second half, running for three first downs on a nine-play touchdown drive that was capped by a 27-yard run. In an attempt to reduce the deficit further, the Demons went for a two-point conversion, which they ran in to make the score 12–8 to Cardiff.

It almost went from bad to worse for the Cobras as they

went three-and-out on their next possession, Exeter returning the ensuing punt to the Cardiff 21yard line. On 2nd-and-12 from the Cardiff 12, however, safety Robin Ford made a great play to anticipate the Exeter quarterback’s pass, intercept the ball and return it for an 80-yard touchdown. Exeter’s first score was completely cancelled out when Akintunde broke three tackles to add two points to the touchdown and make the score 20–8 to the home side.

As the game entered the fourth quarter, Exeter knew that they needed a touchdown to put themselves within a score of Cardiff and a chance of coming away with a win. Faced with 4th-and-8 at the Cardiff 11, they attempted to run the ball the necessary yards for a new set of downs, but the Cobras’ defence kept them out and the ball was turned over on downs.

The ball changed hands a couple of times before Exeter scored the necessary touchdown, but by that point, the game was into its final two minutes. They attempted an onside kick in order to take possession going into the last 90 seconds, but the ball illegally went out of bounds, and Cardiff took possession in Exeter territory before running down the clock to take their first victory of the season.

The Cobras’ next fixture is on Sunday, November 18th away to the traditionally tough Bristol Barracuda. Week 4 sees the team’s first bye week, although this will likely provide the date for the rearranged fixture at home to the Worcester Royals, and on December 2nd, Cardiff will host the UWE Bullets, another team that could conceivably be the first to win at Llanrumney since the 2007/08 season.

Photo: Jason Jardine

Cardiff Jiu Jitsu fight to the top at National tournament Katherine Willis

Sport Writer On November 2nd, seven members of Cardiff Jiu Jitsu Club departed for Bedford to take part in the Aiuchi Jiu Jitsu Nationals.

Nationals started in earnest on the Saturday morning. 96 people were present from clubs in Bedford, Cardiff, De Montfort University, Keele, Leicester, London, Swindon and Winchester.

Training started gradually with

warm ups and group exercises, followed by simple blocks, moving on to more complex throws and wrists locks. At various intervals, we were sectioned into groups according to our grades for more specialised training, during which it was established that Cardiff Kyus know how to throw a punch.

During Saturday, Russ Sykes demonstrated his dedication and years of training and graded to

black belt – Cardiff were proud!

Things took an even better turn for us when Bo Peng reached the semi-finals of the competition, dealing with attacks down the gauntlet from people twice her size.

Sunday saw us introduced to the delights of Ninja Ball as a warm-up exercise. Katy Willis managed the admirable feat of tackling her own team and throwing the ball to the other

side. Cardiff are proud to state that despite the inevitable medical consequences of the social event they trained hard for the rest of the day. The final stage of the competition saw the 1st Kyu (brown belt) and Dan grades showing us how to run the gauntlet in style. Sadly, points are not awarded for comedy value and we won’t mention which Cardiff member scored zero points for the simulated killing of someone

with a bottle. What can be said is that Cardiff had the smallest number of people present of any club, but thanks to the lungpower of Rishi Kalra, we managed to give the largest cheer as our two Dan grades took to the gauntlet.

Conclusion: Cardiff Jitsu Club had a wonderful Nationals and went home proud!

Round-up

in opening BUCS game

JOMEC 3–1 History Tom Eden

resist a second-half fight-back from the Exeter Demons

Group A

35

Sport 33–36

Monday November 19th 2012 | @gairrhyddsport

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Group B

News Editor A hat-trick by Pete Le Hegarat capped an impressive 3–1 win for JOMEC FC against AFC History.

JOMEC got off to the perfect start, scoring in the first minute after a fluid counter-attack, and maintained the high tempo for the majority of the game.

Midway through the second half, JOMEC doubled their lead.

A clumsy challenge resulted in a free kick, which was curled onto the head of Le Hegerat, who guided it past the diving keeper.

Following half time, History emerged with a fresh enthusiasm, creating space and looking far more threatening than at any point in the first half. Their improved determination proved fruitful when, after some good work down the right wing, Alex Trowell found room to drive the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

With the deficit back to a single goal, History's confidence improved, and a JOMEC side that had lost some of its shape due to multiple substitutions was, for the first time, on the back foot.

The reintroduction of combative midfielder Stan Curran helped steady the JOMEC ship. Curran and his fellow central midfielder Matt Daniel were superb in both their tackling and passing.

JOMEC came within inches of scoring again halfway through the second half, but a shot by winger Dean McGhee was stopped on the line by a large puddle. They finally increased their lead with ten minutes to go after a long ball forward was neatly slotted in by Le Hegarat to complete his hat-trick. After the game, he said, "It was a great win for the boys, I was just glad to help with the hat-trick."

After a loss to Law A last week, History were keen to get back to winning ways, but their stuttering performance frustrated their

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captain Dom Ansell, who was left "flabbergasted". This defeat leaves them sixth in Group B, with only one win so far.

In a season where IMG fixtures have been notably unpredictable, the win was a slight surprise given previous results, but it was a deserved victory for a dominant JOMEC side. Ansell, captaining History in the 10th year since their formation, was gracious in defeat, saying: "I take my hat off to a rejuvenated JOMEC, particularly the aerial presence of Niall Collins and Gus Forrester's penetrating runs."

History were keen to get back to winning ways but their stuttering performance frustrated their captain, who was left "flabbergasted" The mention of rejuvenation was accurate, with this being JOMEC’s best performance of the season, epitomised by the regularity with which they won 50/50 challenges. This provided JOMEC with a solid foundation of possession, and one of the key differences between the teams was the way they used the ball, with History looking cagey at times, resulting in a large number of passes going astray.

Refereeing is often a contentious issue at all levels of football, but the referee for this match contributed to a good-natured game with confident and authoritative decisions.

On a negative note, one of the low points of the game was the vulgar, fluorescent pink socks worn by JOMEC’s right-back James Tate, who was suitably reprimanded at the club initiation after the final whistle.

Group C

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L

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1

FC Euros

4

4

0

0

6

12

1

Pharm A.C.

3

3

0

0

10

9

1

Roath Park Rangers

4

2

2

0

4

8

2

SOCSI

4

3

0

1

6

9

2

Law A

3

3

0

0

7

9

2

C-PLAN AFC

4

2

1

1

6

7

3

Momed AFC

3

2

0

1

5

6

3

CARBS FC

4

2

2

0

9

8

3

Cardiff Uni IMG 1st

4

2

1

1

4

7

4

AFC Dentistry

3

2

0

1

2

6

4

JOMEC FC

4

2

1

1

-2

7

4

Engin loco FC

3

2

0

1

1

6

5

Cardiff Uni IMG 2nd

3

1

1

1

1

4

5

Inter Menan

4

2

0

2

1

6

5

Psycho Athletic

3

1

1

1

2

4

6

Law B

4

1

1

2

-5

4

6

History AFC

3

1

0

2

2

3

6

Computer Science FC

4

1

1

2

-2

4

7

1st XI

3

1

0

2

2

3

7

Gym Gym

4

0

2

2

-9

2

7

OPSOC

3

1

0

2

-8

3

8

Chemistry FC

4

1

0

3

2

3

8

Cardiff Mets

4

0

1

3

-5

1

8

CHAOS FC

2

0

2

0

0

2

9

Too Big To Fail

4

0

0

4

-15

0

9

Time Team

3

0

0

3

-13

0

9

Engin Automotive FC

4

0

2

2

-6

2

10

EarthSoc

1

0

0

1

-1

0

Ex-Cardiff Cleverly retains WBO Title << page 33

cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk /gairrhydd

Sport Monday November 19th 2012 | Issue 991

Cardiff Cobras enter BUCS with victory

Sub-editor Tom Parry-Jones gives his account of the Cardiff Cobras' American football fixture against the Exeter Demons. see page 34

Photo: Jason Jardine

Smooth sailing for Cardiff Windsurfing This week in Sport, Will Jones reports on the Windsurfing Club's excellent start to the 2012/13 season.

For many years now, Cardiff has been known as one of the biggest university windsurfing clubs in the country, producing some of the best sailors on the student tour.

This year appears to be no exception, with four sailors competing at national level on the British Wavesailing Association (BWA) tour. The BWA is the definitive UK contest and an essential date on the calendar for all the country's top sailors and many of the best in the world.

Jony Price, Joe Shuttleworth,

Tom Firth and Will Jones, all third-year Engineers, recently made the long drive to Gwithian in Cornwall to compete in the Puravida Cornwall Classic.

The challenging conditions of changing winds and heavy waves were testing for the team. At the end of day one, the general feeling among the group was disappointment, with no competitors making it further than the second round. However, tomorrow is always a new day and the double elimination format, standard for all BWA events, provided the team with a chance to fight back, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what they did! see page 33