Mersey News Live 1:7 November 24 2021

MNL Powered by LJMU journalists

THIS WEEK

ARTS

LIFESTYLE

Mersey News Live FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY 24 NOVEMBER 2021

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE QUEER ART BACK ON THE STREET

THE PUB’S THE PLACE TO TALK GREEN

OLIVIA’S A PEDAL POWER HERO

> CHRISTMAS MARKETS RETURN TO LIVERPOOL: 10 & 11

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CONTENTS THIS WEEK

Pg 15

4&5 Olivia rises to Rickshaw challenge 6 Transgender Remembrance Day 7 Fighting for Women’s Health 8 Raise a glass for the globe

Pg 4&5

LIFE & ARTS 9 Eco-hub shines in climate campaign 10&11 Staying safe at Christmas Markets 12 Does Christmas start too soon?

13 City unites to fight hate 14 New vegan directory app 15 Queer artwork reinstated

Pg 10&11

Pg 7

Pg 6

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elcome back to this week’s edition of MNL. Raising money for this year’s Children in Need, local girl Olivia has completed a 30-mile cycle for the Rickshaw challenge in a bid to show her support.

As December is fast approaching, we take a look at this year’s Liverpool Christmas Market and how to stay safe and secure.

At the same time, we join the debate about whether Christmas starts too soon.

In other news, we look at how the city

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Festivities and fundraising unites to fight Islamophobia as well as celebrating Transgender Remembrance Day. We also dive into the Climate change conversation after local eco hub is recognised in a new global climate campaign by the UN - and, whilst we’re on the topic of environment, head to page 9 to discover more about where you can raise a glass to the globe!

And, for all the plant-based lovers out there, tune into page 14 and explore a new vegan directory app which you can

use to discover all the vegan friendly businesses around the city, and continue reading for much more!

You can also visit our sister website Merseynewslive.co.uk and see what our other hard-working journalists have been up to ... and also remember to tune into our podcast to hear all about how we have found producing our pieces with only a small team available this week. Happy reading!

Dannielle Jones, Sub-editor

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Pedalling for Pudsey!

By BETH LINDOP

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erseyside teenager Olivia Rushton proved to be a fundraising hero when she took part in this year’s Great Rickshaw Challenge for Children in Need.

The 17-year-old cycled the 30-mile route from her former school in Southport, Churchtown Primary, to Wirral-based children’s hospice Claire House earlier this month.

She was one of five young people selected to take part in the challenge for BBC Children in Need, which by the end of last Friday’s appeal show, had raised more than £40m in total.

Claire House holds a special significance for Olivia, providing vital support for her younger sister Jessica and the rest of the Rushton family.

Jessica, 15, was born with a life-limiting chromosomal disorder, and the Bebington hospice ensures that she receives essential care whilst also allowing Olivia and the rest of the family to have some valuable respite.

“The sibling support group I attend at Claire House is fully funded by the money they receive from Children in Need,” Olivia said.

“They nominated me for the rickshaw challenge and so I went through the whole selection process and

got chosen to show how the money benefits the hospice.”

Hannah Shannon, Head of Communications at Claire House, told MNL: “Olivia is one of many siblings who come here, and we were really keen to highlight what an amazing job these children do looking after a seriously ill sibling. It was something we were really pleased that we could raise the profile of.”

Despite the physical demands of the challenge, Olivia thoroughly enjoyed taking part.

“I think because I was so excited during the day it wasn’t too bad,” she said.

“I thought that the actual cycling was going to be a lot worse, although the last six miles were very difficult.”

For the 17-year-old fashion student, one of the highlights was the incredible reception she received at Claire House.

She told Mersey News Live: “It was lovely. I knew pretty much everyone there but there were some faces I didn’t recognise. It was nice to see people I didn’t even know wanting to support me and support Claire House.”

The significance of Olivia’s achievement is being celebrated by the team at Claire House.

Olivia’s sister, Jessica, with Pudsey,

Photo: Claire House 4

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The team at Claire House celebrate Children in Need Photo: Claire House

Claire House and other children’s hospices around the UK are an absolute lifelife for families like mine

“We are massively proud of Olivia,” said Hannah.

“Doing that cycle ride from her home to Claire House was such an incredible achievement and she did it so coolly and calmly which was just amazing. The whole family have been fantastic in the support they have given to us, and the money raised will make a massive difference.”

The financial support that Claire House receives from Children in Need is crucial in ensuring that life at the hospice is as enjoyable as possible for both patients and their families.

“The grants from Children in Need go to pay for some of our play departments and the team that help make life fun at Claire House,” Hannah told MNL. “The team provide fun play activities, they do arts and crafts, they do all sorts of things to make sure that

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when the children come here, they have a nice time, and it can keep their mind off their treatments and how hard life can be. The grants also go towards paying for sibling activities.”

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espite the difficult circumstances that bring families to the hospice, the sibling support group is in place to restore a sense of normality and allow children and young adults like Olivia to have fun.

“We can access support from the leader of the group at any time,” Olivia said. “Before Covid, we met up about once a month. When we meet up, we don’t tend to just sit around and chat, we’ll go and do an activity like going away for the weekend or going to Blackpool pleasure beach.

“We don’t tend to just sit and talk about how terrible things are. When I’m at the sibling support group it’s

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Olivia arrives at Claire House after completing the 30-mile route, photos: Claire House never a sad time.”

The Rickshaw Challenge was first devised by former One Show host Matt Baker in 2011. In the decade since its foundation, the initiative has raised more than £41m for Children in Need.

Although Olivia’s involvement in The Rickshaw Challenge has helped shine a spotlight on the work that Claire House does, the teenager was keen to emphasise the importance of year-round fundraising.

She said: “Claire House and other children’s hospices around the UK are an absolute lifeline for families like mine.

“I’m only 17 and I can see how difficult it would be for our family without the support that they give us – it’s priceless.

“They are pretty much funded by donations.

“They get a little bit of money off the government each year, but they couldn’t survive without people’s donations.”

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The money raised will make a massive difference

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For more information about how to donate, visit: donate.bbcchildreninneed. co.uk/rickshaw

Merseyside Nursery’s fundraising feat

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ids Planet Litherland have smashed their target and raised £1009.00 for the Cash for Kids corporate appeal.

The initiative aims to support disabled and disadvantaged children in Liverpool, the North West and North Wales.

Alex Cullen, the Nursery Manager said: “We are delighted to be supporting Cash for kids as they are a charity who are close to our hearts and they have supported us over the years.”

During the 10-week challenge, the Merseyside nursery participated in a number of activities including a staff bake safe, a raffle, and a teddy bears picnic. The money raised will help

improve the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children across the region.

Alex said: “Cash for Kids has kindly donated our most disadvantaged families with Christmas presents and supported our school leavers with brand new school shoes. They work closely with our families in supporting in anything they may need.”

He added: “The welfare of our children and families is of the utmost importance to us and charities such as Cash for Kids have ensured that our families in need have been supported in many different ways. As a company, we have had lots of fun fundraising for this charity and we will continue to support them in the future.”

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The Nursery held a raffle as part of their fundraising, photo: Kids Planet Litherland

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Remembrance of lives lost Transgender Day of Remembrance 2021 was used to reflect on trans lives which have been lost to murder and suicide.

ZOE WHEELER reports

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ate is not a sustainable emotion.” That’s the verdict by a young trans activist, Felix, on Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) 2021.

Last week saw members of the transgender community and allies in Liverpool came together to memorialise the lives lost at a TDOR vigil at Museum of Liverpool last week.

Mersey News Live attended this powerful and moving event and heard from members of the trans community and allies who all spoke on their varying experiences.

The event was hosted by 20-yearold, Felix Mufti-Wright from Liverpool who spoke on his experiences as a trans man and how to support the community.

Speaking at the vigil he said: It’s so important to me today that we’ve listened to so many trans young people and heard their stories because they are truly our future.”

Felix read out a speech from 13-year-old, Emily Williams. The speech outlined her experiences as a young trans girl she wrote: “When I first started speaking at TDOR I was ten years old and mostly I was aware of the sadness and tragedy of lovely people’s lives lost but now as I get older, I am also gripped by fear.”

She also outlined how she feels she has become a target of much worse transphobia; she wrote: “Now that I am 13 it seems that I am fair game to be called names. How much longer will it be until I am fair game to get a smack or a punch or a kick or even worse?”

Recently, the BBC posted an article entitled “We’re being pressured into sex by some trans women”. This

article was met with fury from the transgender community and allies as it featured controversial anecdotal comments among which described a trans woman as “vile, weak and disgusting”. The public service broadcaster later removed this quote from the piece.

However, this article is one of many which has led to active discourse on trans rights. Emily’s speech touched on the media discourse about trans lives. She wrote: “The attacks on our community from the media is relentless and incites hate. Hate that is directed towards myself and my transgender family.”

TDOR Vigil at Musuem of Liverpool. but that is what you’ve become for us and our children and we are truly blessed to know you.”

She spoke to the audience about the first time she attended a Transgender Day of Remembrance service in 2016, she said: “I walked in desperate full of fear and preconceived ideas of what life could be like for my child.

I had learnt about the slurs thrown about in everyday life and I had learnt that the jokes weren’t funny.”

Jeneen also spoke about the frustration she felt when she discovered she couldn’t take her daughter to Egypt because it’s illegal to be LGBTQIA+, she said: “I was really disappointed for us for about five minutes and then realised that to us it’s just a destination but imagine that being your home.”

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he added: “The British media has blood on it’s hands and I don’t want it to be the blood of myself or any of my friends.”

Lee Evans is a 65-year-old transgender man from Liverpool who honoured the trans lives lost to suicide and murder simply because they are transgender with a poem he had written.

He said: “Such beautiful trans women and gentle trans men. Where beheadings beatings and stonings happen again and again and again.”

He also hinted at the recent social media and wider coverage of transgender people which has been host to hatred and transphobia.

He said: “The truth will beat down your propaganda and lies with a rainbow tsunami to protect trans lives.”

Jeneen Lilith, 39, spoke about her experiences as a mother of a trans child and the help and comfort she had found in elder trans people in Liverpool.

She said: “I don’t suppose becoming role models was part of your life

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bout the discussion on trans rights, Jeneen said: “Pineapple on pizza is up for debate, your lives are not.”The vigil was opened by Matt Exley, a Museum of Liverpool staff member who outlined the role the museum has played in supporting trans lives.

He reminded the audience the museum held an exhibition many years

Transgender pride flag with candles.

Photos © Zoe Wheeler 6

ago called ‘April Ashley: Portrait of a Lady’ which was the first major exhibition at a national museum telling the life story of a trans individual. He said: “I’m really proud to say we’ve continued our work at the museum championing the trans community and I hope you’ll agree showing good allyship and standing alongside trans individuals and our trans and non-binary friends.”

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), signifies an annual day of memoriam, 20th November, for those who have lost their lives as a result of transphobia and to raise awareness to the violence and hate transgender individuals endure..

Furthermore, 2021 sees a shocking 7% increase in trans people being killed since 2020; staggeringly, 375 trans people were killed globally in the past 12 months.

A quarter of the recorded murders were in the individual’s own home.

These statistics demonstrates how hard it can be for trans individuals to live an open and proud life without fear.

LJMU Lecturer in Media, Culture, Communication, Dr Bee Hughes, recently commented on what it means to be trans and an ally in 2021 for TDOR. Dr Hughes reflected on recent successes in popular media such as RuPaul’s Drag Race. A spin off show RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, saw a trans woman, Kylie, compete for the crown which portrayed a positive representation of her and explored her journey as a trans woman.

However, Dr Hughes also said that despite some positive change, anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crime has risen sharply in the UK. They said: “Merseyside has seen a spate of homophobic and transphobic assaults, and artworks celebrating queer lives as part of Homotopia Festival were vandalised and destroyed in the city centre in recent weeks.”

• Queer art re-instated: p15

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It’s time for a healthy discussion about periods SASKIA FRYER speaks to former students’ union women’s officer Ambar Ennis about her campaign educating women about their health

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he lack of awareness around women’s health and wellbeing have led to unnecessary suffering and delays in treatment. That’s the message from campaigner Ambar Ennis, who wants to educate women and the public about women’s gynaecological health.

Ambar, JMSU’s Vice President of Community and Wellbeing, introduced her campaign, Gynaecoloday, when she was the former women’s officer for the students’ union.

Her aim is to raise awareness about conditions which are often neglected by modern medicine.

The Idea came after reading the book, ‘Invisible Women’ by Caroline Criado-Perez. It’s about how women are excluded from some clinical trials because it’s believed that part of the menstrual cycle could affect test results.

This shocked and Appalled Ambar as this means that we are not entirely sure how much certain medicines affect women during their cycle.

She told MNL: “Gynaecological health is a source of shame and embarrassment, for all genders, and it allows women to suffer from illnesses that impact their everyday lives, and this fuels the excruciating diagnosis times.”

Conditions such as, endometriosis, can take up to seven and a half years to diagnose. According to the NHS, this is where: “tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.”

This is a lifelong condition which can affect women of any age, it is commonly known to cause pelvic pain. Ambar added: “I was so angry from finding all of this out and I wanted to shout about it as much as I can.”

Ambar wants gynaecoloday to educate students to make them aware

of these conditions, so women know the symptoms to look out for.

She releases information about a different illness each week to raise awareness to people about these problems.

She said: “I had a lot of students message me directly to say they felt seen and that they realised they may have some of the conditions I was raising the profile of.

“It was heart-warming and yet heart-breaking to hear this; these students had been suffering in silence, and the campaign made them feel seen.”

Another issue that Ambar found to be a cause to the lack of education around women’s health, was how many doctors were also unaware of some of the conditions.

Therefore, this is what was leading

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these students had been suffering in silence, and the campaign made them feel seen

to a longer waiting time for women to receive a diagnosis.

The BBC published an article in 2018 discussing the issues of women being misdiagnosed and not taken seriously when being referred to a GP. The article found through looking at studies, that as many as 30-50% of women are misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety.

Although, it’s worth noting that depression and anxiety can also be symptoms linked to other diseases affecting women which tend to be unrecognised by GPs.

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ue to this problem, many women remain untreated for certain illnesses, which in the long run can make things worse for them.

Ambar said: “Women’s health isn’t even compulsory in medical schools, so if qualified doctors aren’t aware, how can we expect non-doctor citizens to know of them?”

There appears to be a gender bias in the medical practice.

As with a lack of doctors discussing and researching women’s health and illnesses, leads to more women suffering in silence.

Ambar wants to continue the journey of educating people and

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supporting women.

She has already succeeded as an intern on the Free Period Project where she worked with the university for funding to end period poverty.

Her ambition is to continue the conversation of inequalities in the workplace and healthcare.

She said she wants to see: “That people are more willing to engage in the conversations on the conditions, so that they can get adequate support from professionals and so that their friends and families can better engage in their experiences.

“Overall, I want people to stop being so scared of periods!”

If you think you may be suffering from any of these underlying conditions, then you can find out all the information on the JMSU website.

Under the campaign section you will find all the useful details Ambar has provided if you want to find out more.

Most importantly, please check out the NHS website if you need to seek medical advice or contact your GP.

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Place to meet and raise a glass for the globe!

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DANNIELLE JONES speaks to organiser of Green Drinks Liverpool, Stephen Sykes about the importance of speaking about all things green

he environment has always been a huge topic of discussion and debate – and now there’s a place where people can discover and learn about the environment while enjoying a pint.

Green Drinks International is a growing movement with over 300 Green Drinks groups worldwide including Green Drinks Liverpool, which was set up in 2006. Green Drinks Liverpool is held on the first Thursday of every month at Doctor Duncan’s in St George’s Quarter and is a place where people who have a similar interest in the environment can go socialise and discuss things happening around Liverpool concerning the environment over a drink.

Stephen Sykes, organiser of Green Drinks Liverpool and co-founder and director of 2030Hub, spoke to MNL about why he set it up, what it involves - and the importance of speaking about all things green!

He said: “Whilst I was working for Groundwork UK as Environment Programme Manager, I spent quite a bit of my time away for Merseyside so as part of getting to know the area again, I did the Common Purpose Matrix Programme which is where you get to understand how Merseyside functions, and one of the things you

Stephen added: “Green Drinks is open to anybody with an interest in the environment. It’s a place to meet new people, learn new things and have conversations about such a big topic of today’s society.

“People can come and talk at Green Drinks if they have project ideas and need help or want people to team up with. We act as a signpost for people as well so if somebody came to one of the events and wanted to set up a campaign to save a local green space in Liverpool, we would help put them in touch with the right people and point them in the right direction.”

The events help raise awareness of the environment in the city and give people a place to go speak and debate about a topic that is so prominent in society currently.

Stephen told MNL: “The thing about the environment is that it affects everybody and like Albert

do is set yourself a challenge to give something back and mine was to set up Green Drinks Liverpool.”

The events aim to help people with like-minded views network and have sociable conversations without any agenda or formal presentations.

Stephen added: “The events are very informal, organic meet ups, there is no presentations or promotion of anything. It is very natural and a place to just chat, debate and learn new things about the environment.”

“Green Drinks Liverpool is a place people can go and hear lots of different views about the environment...”

Einstein says the environment is ‘everything but me’ and in Liverpool there are lots of grassroots organisations so the environment is quite a big topic and Green Drinks Liverpool is a place people can go and hear lots of different views about the environment whereas if you go to meetings by specific groups like Friends of The Earth, you’ll only hear their views.”

The next Green Drinks is due to take place on December Second between six and eight o’clock.

“Attending events is completely voluntary as there is no agenda or booking. The beauty of it is it can vary, and people can go one month but not the next so can get a true mixture of people,” Stephen added.

For more information about Green Drinks Liverpool, you can head to their website or search Green Drinks International to find other Green Drinks groups in the country.

Photo Credit: Markus Spiske on UnSplash

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hey are open to anyone over 18 with an interest in the environment and the people who attend can vary each time with City Councillors, MP’s and even other green drinks organisers like Green Drinks Vancouver attending previous Green Drinks events.

PLUS! Discover one of Stephen’s other projects, the 2030 Hub: See facing page.

Photo Credit: Dannielle Jones

The MNL podcast is here LISTEN TO THE LATEST NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE MNL TEAM

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TRAIL-BLAZING ECO-HUB WINS GREEN PLAUDIT DANNIELLE JONES reports on the latest Liverpool Climate Hub, ‘2030 Hub’ and their achievements of being praised by UN Foundation with their new climate campaign.

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ocal climate action group 2030 Hub and their new project ‘2030zero’ have been recognised and praised for six years of local climate and Sustainable Development Goals lobbying and awareness by the UN Foundation.

The group was recognised as part of the UN Foundation’s new climate campaign ‘#OurClimateIsOurFuture’, launched during Cop26 in Glasgow earlier this month.

The climate campaign group, which is the world’s first UN-recognised Local2030 Hub, was formed in 2016

by David Connor and Stephen Sykes to help connect sustainable leadership to grassroot action.

Since then, it has established a commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within Liverpool, built the UK’s second city-level open-source SDG data platform, created a youth ambassador programme, ‘2030pioneers’, and hosted ‘Global Goals Week: Liverpool’ for two years running.

Their ‘2030zero’ campaign is the latest pledge that hopes to increase local climate action, specifically carbon emissions, by connecting it to local needs including poverty, housing, employment and more recently Covid-19 recovery.

It uses the SDGs to encourage local businesses to take ownership and support the cause to make the city greener and climate cleaner!

David Connor, who has been part of the UN Foundation’s ‘+SocialGood’ initiative for three years as one of 13 global ambassadors for local action aligned to the promotion of the SDGs, told MNL: “Our ‘2030zero’ plan is to create a peer-to-peer community of local net-zero leaders and advocates supported by the right tools in an accessible SME language. We must approach this as a community, or we will lose.

“We will do this by campaigning across the Liverpool City Region, sharing resources and news, but most importantly promoting the local businesses that are embracing net-zero early, innovatively and boldly. We need to create a local ownership of a movement that directly benefits local people and businesses first, but also wherever possible can play roles as global citizens and thought-leaders –especially through our UN networks!”

The ‘2030zero’ campaign which is supported by Peel L&P and University of Liverpool, pledges to halve the carbon emissions in the city by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions before 2050.

FUN FACT! What are SDG’S? UN SDGs, short for Sustainable Development Goals, are a globally agreed framework of 17 interconnected Goals, 169 Targets and 244 indicators covering social, economic and environmental aims which strive to leave nobody behind by helping the furthest first.

David Connor, Co-founder of 2030 Hub. Photo Credit: David Connor David added: “We believe that net-zero should be a local-zero-first approach to accelerate local adoption.

Yes, protecting the Amazon rain forest is very important, but can we be our usual stereotypical selves and add some creativity and innovation to this?

“How about increasing local tree planting or seagrass planting along our coast or improving and creating wetland ecosystems as one approach or maybe putting paid-for solar panels or improved insulation on low-income housing to help address fuel poverty? These all help to address carbon reduction whilst creating local jobs, introducing new skills, improving air quality and neighbourhoods.”

ty groups and civic leaders need to step up and be bold beyond our bravery.

These huge challenges are everybody’s responsibility, and even the smallest action matters.”

His partner, Stephen Sykes, co-founder and director of 2030 Hub, added: “We started building ‘2030zero’ nearly two years ago after discovering that only five out of 50,000+ businesses had a public net-zero statement and COP26 was just over the horizon. Net-zero wasn’t a priority for anybody else back then, so we corralled support and began to convene a private sector led community and peer to peer advocacy.”

His work for 2030 Hub was praised

by David who told MNL: “We are really fortunate to have a Director like Stephen Sykes at 2030hub, as he is avid expressed his appreciation probably the biggest net-zero asset the for the recognition of their Liverpool City Region has, but often project, saying: “I can only overlooked because he’s too unasaccept this wonderful platform for all suming! He has literally decades of those that have supported 2030hub experience, especially with grassroots across the Liverpool City Region, and SMEs and knows everybody connected beyond. There has never been such to this theme.” a crucial time for radical change in For more information about 2030 human history and we, as a city, as Hub and their 2030zero pledge for individuals, as businesses, as communi- Liverpool then head to their website.

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2030zero is the latest project for 2030 Hub Photo Credit: David Connor

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t George’s Hall is hosting the city’s Christmas Markets this year, and after a long, stressful year of lockdowns and travel bans, the event is one of the most eagerly-anticpated of the year.

The past 12 months have been a hard time for everyone. The pandemic was at its height and families around the country were on the edge of their seat waiting to see whether or not Prime Minister Boris Johnson was going to cancel the holidays.

Lockdown lifted for a week on the 23rd, but the festivities didn’t last long before lockdown resumed for most of the country on December 27.

The Christmas spirit returns this year, however, with St George’s Hall hosting the Christmas Markets for Liverpool, right on the doorstep of Lime Street Station.

The markets will feature a range of independent Scouse businesses stocked with trinkets, decorations, food and drink.

“To be able to host the Christmas Market outside St George’s Hall after the disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to be able to reignite this level of joy amongst our community, is such an incredible honour” said Adam Yates, the digital marketing manager for the venue.

“This year’s event definitely feels different.

HOLIDAY CHEER SET TO BOOST US THIS YEAR

By RHIANNON HOGARTH Firstly…we’re living in a post-lockdown climate, in which some people are a little more hesitant to embrace a Christmas Market more than others.

“For the most part, we have found that people are just so happy to be able to get out of the house and have something festive to do, so it’s our privilege to witness their joy.”

It’s been a hard year, and with talks of another lockdown creeping back up, it’s vital that people across the country have the ability to take a moment to enjoy the holidays, spend time with family and eat as much food as they can whilst the winters rolls by, and the New Year looms closer.

• SAFETY FIRST: See facing page

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Safety first as seasonal markets re-open doors MAIA NODEN reports on the opening of the Christmas markets and the safety of the public following the terror attack

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iverpool’s Christmas markets have opened for the public. This year the markets are bigger than ever in the city. Following the terror attack on Remembrance Sunday, Operations Manager of Clarke Events, Nikki Walker believes they are “prepared for the worst”.

Nikki spoke to MNL after the recent terror attack just outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital and said: “We are in constant talks with Merseyside police and always looking for ways to improve and ensure the safety of our visitors.”

The Christmas market has still been busy, as Nikki said: “We thought we might have had a drop off in numbers on the Monday, but if we did, we didn’t notice it. We were still really busy which is good.”

Numbers attending the market was expected to drop due to the unforeseen circumstances, however this was not the case.

This year’s markets are bigger as they make up for the loss of it last year. There is a slight change in location from previous years due to the ongoing roadworks on Lime Street.

The market is accessible from lower and upper William Brown Street and via St John’s Lane.

With the market having moved location, Adam Yates, digital marketing manager for St. George’s Hall has said: “It has also yielded positives such as more stalls and fairground rides. So, although having double the disruption is far from ideal, all of our partners involved in the running of the situation, He said: partners involved in the running of the market are definitely happier for being able to do their jobs again.”

Rumours speculated that the car explosion incident at the Women’s hospital caused the Christmas markets to be shut, however the market had previously announced it will not be open on Remembrance Sunday, 14 November.

Nikki told MNL that people are “going about their daily activities,” and “we can’t spend any time worrying or we wouldn’t do anything.”

The Christmas markets have been organised by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team in partnership with Clarke Events. On

November 12, the light switch on took place in the city preparing for the festive season.

Do you want to get into the Christmas spirit? This is the perfect place to take all the family or just yourself for a magical festive experience. The children can enjoy Santa’s Village with its variety of rides including a big wheel.

Nikki believes the markets have been busy since open day and were surprised how busy it has been as she said: “I feel since people missed out on Christmas last year, they all want to enjoy themselves.”

Market Location:

The markets are located at St John’s Gardens, Williams Brown Street, and the area around the North entrance of St George’s Hall. They are running from November 12 to December 23 open from 11am to 9pm, Sunday to Wednesday and 11 am to 10pm, Thursday to Saturday.

A sweet stall at the Christmas Market

What is there to do?

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he market has 40 stalls, with the perfect variety of local foods and drinks. The stalls, the rides and the twinkle lights will get you in high spirits. A perfect activity for the families, or just for the adults to get a taste of the German beers or hot ciders the festive themed bars have to offer.

If you are a foodie, head down to the Christmas mar

The big wheel at the Christmas Market 11

kets where you can indulge in some winter favourites, such as German sausages, crepes, dipped pretzels and more!

There is the addition of the Bavarian bar this year alongside other bars. The other bars include the iconic Windmill, Tepee tent, Barrel Bar, Alpine Lodge and the karaoke cable cars - you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Photos © Maia Noden

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‘Tis the season to be jolly certain it’s started too soon It is that time of year again ... the John Lewis advert is on screens around the country, the Christmas light switch-ons are beginning to happen. But there’s one question on my mind... is it too early? By DANNY BALL

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rees up at the beginning of November, shopping done by mid-November… what happened to last minute shopping on Christmas Eve? Okay, well, maybe that is due to my inability to plan - but my point still stands the turkey might as well be cooked now in some people’s houses!

Look, I understand we have had a bad year, and on top of that we barely had a Christmas last year.

However, tradition is tradition, and in my house, I guarantee that the tree will be up no earlier than December 12.

However, that is just me and I know that even pre-pandemic people liked to get the festivities started early, we have a neighbour who was their tree up from the end of October because they don’t like Halloween… not my cup of tea but each to their own.

Then there’s my girlfriend who has her Christmas shopping finished by September.

I understand the concept of wanting to plan but can we not just enjoy life

as it happens a bit first?

The constant need to look ahead makes my head spin I feel like I’m going grey at the age of 23!

Which is made even worse by the fact that I have a retail job where it is practically Christmas from mid-October… I am so tired of Christmas songs already.

It is no secret that Christmas is over commercialised, it has been for many a year - the reason why Santa is red is because of Coca-Cola.

If that doesn’t tell you anything, I don’t what will. But this gross commercialisation has got to a point where you feel like Christmas starts as soon as summer ends and in my opinion that’s where we have lost some of the magic at Christmas.

When we are coming off the back of a pandemic, with some of the poorest families in the country struggling to keep themselves above the breadline, I don’t view the Christmas spirit as big corporations peddling their new shiny toys under the pretence of a cinematic advert with a Christmas theme. Humbug!

Credit: S&B Vonlanthen

Credit: Annie Spratt

Credit: Deidre Schlabs 12

LIFE

MNL

LIFE

A

fter the shocking attempted attack on Liverpool Women’s Hospital last week, inclusivity groups across are concerned about the long-term implications it may have for Muslims living in the city.

There have been conflicting reports around his religious beliefs and motives, but it’s clear Emad Al Swealmeen intended to do harm to the people of Merseyside.

There was the usual storm of speculation and hysteria in the aftermath, but amid all of this, the Liverpool Muslim Society promptly published a statement condemning the attack.

Their response was measured and called for calm and vigilance.

The statement was indicative of a religion of peace, a community that cares for its own; one that should not be fearful of hate filled attacks and prejudice.

Despite the considered response from the Muslim society, Labour MP Anneliese Dodds wrote to the

‘ ’ There is more that unites us than divides us

By JOE WADDELL Conservative Party last week to urge them to take urgent action to protect Muslims following a “very concerning” increase in hate crimes since the attack on the hospital.

The sentiment was echoed by fellow Labour MP Kim Johnson who said she had been hearing of incidents where hijab-wearing women wear facing abuse almost immediately after the attack.

The concerns come during Islamophobia Awareness Month which has been aiming to raise awareness about the issues that Muslim communities face every day.

“It goes over a lot of people’s heads. If you aren’t the victim then maybe you don’t see it, but it happens every day,” said one victim of an Islamophobic attack who asked to remain anonymous.

“I was physically assaulted because of my beliefs, but the other stuff can be just as bad. People calling you a terrorist, telling you to go back home.

Even just crossing to the other side of the road. It makes you feel like you aren’t human.”

These anecdotes aren’t the only evidence of an increase in Islamophobia in the city. Yesterday, Brian Elfick, a minister of a Liverpool church, said that one of the Church regulars received death threats in relation to the attempted bombing.

LIFE

Rev Elfick told the BBC that his congregation had many asylum seekers and many were “fearful of coming to church.” The reverend added that “those from the Middle East feel much more distrusted and unwelcome.”

With all of this in mind, religious leaders from across the city came together to call for unity in the region and beyond. Rabbi Avinoam Czitron, Priyanka Mohta, Leyla Mashjari and the Reverend Canon Dr Crispin Pailing delivered a statement outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

Leyla Mashjari, representing the Muslim Society, said: “There is more that unites us than divides us.”

The solidarity of leaders of other religious communities standing sideby-side is a powerful image and one that they hope can become a catalyst for meaningful change in Liverpool. Women wearing hijabs have reported

having them ripped off whilst in Liverpool.

Religious leaders gathered to offer solidarity for those affected by the attack and called for unity.

City sends out message of unity in the face of hate Facts behind Islamophobia It is estimated that nearly 400 anti-Islamic tweets are posted per day.

50% of hijab-wearing women feel that they have missed out on opportunities through religious discrimination rather than meritocracy.

Studies have shown, the mainstream media using twenty times as many negative terms when describing Muslims for every one neutral or positive term.

There were more than 8000 religiously motivated hate crimes following the Manchester bombing in 2017.

The Equality and Human Right’s Commission found that it is 11 times more likely for an Asian to be stopped at airports compared to their white counterpart.

Liverpool’s Al-Rahma Mosque 13

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MNL

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How an Ibiza chat led to a vegan business app EMMA DUKES speaks to Rayner Croft about her online directory which aims to make vegan dining, shopping and living easier and more accessible

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chance encounter while on holiday in Ibiza led to Liverpool entrepreneur Rayner Croft setting up an app listing businesses which are completely vegan.

Plant-based living has become increasingly popular in recent years, with a 40 percent increase of people in the UK following veganism, in 2020. As such, the demand for veggie and vegan businesses has increased, with more and more popping up in city centres, including Liverpool.

Rayner created Plant Based Directory, a free mobile app that lists only 100% vegan businesses and is dedicated to conscious, plant-based living, after a holiday on the Spanish island.

She told MNL: “I bumped into a lady who just happened to be vegan.

I had no idea where I could go to eat in the area, so she pointed me in the direction of her favourite restaurant called Vegan Point. It was whilst I was eating in that very restaurant that I had my eureka moment. If it wasn’t for the lady I bumped into on a whim, I’d never have known Vegan Point even existed.

“I set out to create a website that I’d update as and when I came across vegan restaurants whilst on my travels.

This idea very quickly transformed into the idea of creating an app and as the app evolved, so did the Directory.

“What started out as an app that listed food establishments, soon grew to include businesses such as beauty parlours, hair salons, barbers, yoga studios and so much more.”

Plant Based Directory currently features over forty businesses across Merseyside and Lancashire, including Potts Coffee and Kitchen, known for its vegan pancakes.

As well as contact information and directions for each business, the app shows which ones have public toilets, free Wi-Fi, gluten free options, refills on drinks and much more, allowing people to make decisions on where to eat or shop based on their own needs.

Knowing which hair and beauty salons use cruelty-free and vegan products can be especially difficult, as this information isn’t usually listed on salon websites, so Plant Based Directory allows people to easily know where to get their hair cut, featuring businesses such as Wilderness Hair.

Despite the Directory only featuring vegan businesses, Rayner said that she wants people of all lifestyles to enjoy the app. She explained: “Our reason behind choosing the

Director of Plant Based Diectory, Rayner Croft. name ‘Plant Based Directory’ was because we wanted to make the app a place where everyone is welcome no matter what your diet preference.

“Plant-based” is a neutral term that lots of people can easily relate to nowadays as more and more people are transitioning over from meat dominated diets to more plantbased diets. The amazing thing about vegan food, drinks, products and services is that everyone can enjoy them.”

Launching on the Apple app store in September this year, Plant Based Directory’s first featured business was The Nakery, based on Berry Street in Liverpool City Centre.

Rayner said: “I’d like to give a special mention to The Nakery because this was the first ever business to be listed on the app and we are so eternally grateful to Natalie for believing in our vision from day one.”

“Watch

this space!”

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Currently, the app is only available on Apple devices, however, it will be launching on the Google Play Store on January 1, 2022 for Android users.

Rayner also told MNL that the Directory will be expanding to more locations, including Manchester and London.

She said: “We are slowly but surely working our way out towards the Manchester City region with plans to then move down into London and then across the whole of the UK. “There are so many incredible vegan businesses that we are able to support and promote and put on the vegan map! We have some huge plans but can’t give too much away at this moment in time.

“We don’t just want to make finding vegan food, drink, products and services easy to find and accessible to all, we want to make Plant Based Directory your go-to hub for all things food, health and wellness so watch this space!”

• For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/plantbaseddirectory/.

MNL

ARTS

ARTS

Queer artwork back where it belongs

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By LOUISE LEMOINE wo works of art designed to challenge homophobia in the city have been restored to their former glory after they were

vandalised.

Homotopia runs from October 28 to November 14 and showcases talents from the LGBTQIA community.

In early October, three artwork pieces were exhibited in public spaces around the city in response to a rise in hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.

Ben Youdan’s artwork ‘Queer with no fear’ was exhibited outside the FACT picture house on Wood Street and Rosa Kusabbi’s artwork ‘Hate Has No Place in Liverpool’ was displayed in Liverpool ONE. Rosa’s piece was specifically commissioned in response to the spike in homophobic hate crimes in Liverpool.

Both artworks were vandalised and had to be removed. Ben Youdan’s piece was taken down within the week that it was installed and was found two streets away defaced.

Rosa Kusabbi’s artwork was removed within three days of the work being exhibited.

Now the artworks are back. ‘Queer

‘

with no fear’ was reinstalled at the FACT picture house and will be exhibited for the next two weeks at the Wood Street location. ‘Hate has no place in Liverpool’ was also reinstalled at Lush Liverpool. Lush Liverpool donated £1000 for the reinstallation of the work.

On the new location of Rosa’s ‘Hate has no place’, Homotopia said: ‘We needed to find a new location where the work would be safe and secure. Having worked with Lush on multiple projects we believe the Liverpool store is truly a safe space for our LBGTQ community.’

The third piece in the ‘Queer the City’ initiative is ‘Queer Power’ by Dan Chan and is also still on display in Liverpool ONE. Founded in 2004, Homotopia describe themselves as a ‘Liverpool based arts and social justice organisation that unites and inspires through art and activism.’

They give a platform to local, national and international LGBTQIA creatives, Displaying art across multiple venues and outdoor spaces around Liverpool.

They say that ‘Investing in the future of inspiring, challenging and diverse art is the forefront of our

Investing in the future of inspiring, challenging and diverse art is the forefront of our drive.

’

Ben Youdan with his artwork, ‘Queer with no fear’.

Photo by Ben Youdan. drive as a cultural organisation in the city.’

The Office for National Statistics reported a worrying 9% increase in hate crimes against protected groups in 2021.

Merseyside police also stepped-up patrols in Liverpool over the summer following increased incidents of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes.

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ulture Liverpool approached Homotopia and asked them to compile a creative and community-led response to the incidents. Homotopia called the initiative ‘Queer the City’.

On their social media, Homotopia said ‘As queer people we are always braced for an attack on our existence.’

Homotopia worked with Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police

‘Queer with no fear’ posters, photo by Ben Youdan 15

to try and find out how and why artwork was removed and destroyed.

They also said that ‘As an organisation we are working tirelessly to make Liverpool a safe space for our queer community.

“However, we want to emphasise it is not the sole responsibility of LGBTQIA people to keep each other safe. It is everyone’s responsibility.’

Homotopia celebrates LGBTQIA art forms and is urging people to show support for the community by visiting the exhibitions and celebrating the artists who create powerful, meaningful pieces.

In a social media statement, they said: ‘It is about believing in queer people, and it is about understanding that we are scared.’

Homotopia festival is set to return next autumn to display the talents of the LQBTQIA community.

Contact us: @: info@merseynewslive.co.uk Follow us: Mersey News Live magazine @MerseyNewsLive Skyline from Everton Hills © Louise Lemoine