The EDIT Issue 14- Christmas 2019 by The EDIT Magazine

December 2019

Issue 14

Christmas Edition

Meet the Team

Monica Allen Editor-in-Chief

Erin Paterson Deputy Editor Arts & Culture Editor

Siobhan Macdonald Head of Social Meida

Nicola Gray Online Editor

Kirsten Irvine Fashion Editor

Callum McQuade Music Editor

Hannah MacKenzie Wood News & Features Editor

Craig Edwards Head of Events

Tóra Jóhannusardóttir Head of Design

William Campbell Head of Photography

Abbie Meehan Sports Editor

Rebeka Lužaitytė Entertainment & Tech Editor

Contents

Sports 2 3 4 5

The Link Between Football and Dementia Scotland's Youth Climbing the European Ladder in Football GCU Swim Team: New Season Begins! The Ugly Side to the Beautiful Game: Racism and Football

Fashion 7

The Glasgow Designers Tackling Fast Fashion and Plus Size Inclusivity 9 Love Actually: A Fashion Analysis 11 Wanted Beauty This Christmas 13 Charity Focus: The Halliday Foundation 14 Unfolding Good Together

News and Features 15 The Climate Crisis 17 Extinction Rebellion 19 I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Entertainment and Technology 22 23 24 25

What the iPhone 11 Pro Cameras Mean for the Future Official Secrets Unbelievable Co-Star: The Horoscope App You Didn't Know You Needed

Arts and Culture

Cover / Tรณra Jรณhannusardรณttir

27 28 29 31 32 32

Giving Gifts for Christmas Bingo Loco Scotland Sashay Away Opinion Piece: Clout A Reflection of Christmas Jingling the Globe

Music 33 2020 Has Plenty 34 Not so Little Mix 35 Taking on the Charts like an Animal: John Newman

On behalf of our team here at The EDIT we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! We have had a successful year so far and we hope that 2020 will be the same for both us, and, all our amazing readers and contributors. This years’ Christmas Edition is a fantastic read with amazing varied articles. We would like to thank all of the committee and more importantly all our members for being extremely hard-working and committed, as this would not be possible without all of you! Christmas is a wonderful time for most filled with celebrations with friends and family but we urge you to all think about a few other things this Christmas. Consider the environment this Christmas especially when it comes to food waste and rubbish at Christmas, check what can and can’t be recycled and consider how you purchase presents and how you travel to see friends and family this festive season! Changing just one thing could make a difference to the environment if everyone does at least one thing more sustainable this

It's been a whirlwind of activity working to support our students since I was elected before the summer and I have enjoyed every single bit of it. I'm looking forward to the festive break and travelling to New York with my family. This time of year can be a happy time for some, however it can be isolating and lonely for others. Especially students away from home. 1 in 10 of us do not have anyone to call a close friend and this can affect our health and wellbeing. If you're alone ask for help. And, if you know someone who is alone this holiday, reach out, be kind, take half an hour out your busy time and meet them for a coffee and a chat. It can make a world of difference.

Christmas! Remember that there are those who are not as well off in society as there are some whom rely on Foodbanks or who are sleeping in the streets. There is now a Foodbank Collection Box in collaboration with The Common Good Society on Level 2 of the Students’ Association at the EDIT desk, if you can we would really appreciate it if you were able to donate ONE non-perishable item or even one toiletry item, we would really appreciate it and we would LOVE to be able to give back to our local community. We will also be collecting donations at our Christmas Variety Night which will be held on the 3rd of December in the Re:Union Bar and Grill in the Students’ Association from 7.30pm. We hope to see you all there! Have a magical Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes! Monica and Erin x

Pop in and say hi to your presidential student officer team in NH212 on Level 2 of the Student Association and if you need to talk our Advice Centre is open Monday-Friday 9am until 5pm. Have a wonderful festive holiday and I look forward to seeing you all after the New Year! Susan Docherty Vice President SCEBE Remember if you need someone to talk to this Christmas there are several people you can call! Strathclyde and GCU Nightline- 01415522555 Glasgow Samaritans- 0141 248 4488

Sports

The link between

football and dEmEntia New research has revealed that former professional footballers are three and a half times more likely to suffer from dementia and other neurological diseases, confirming the link between football and brain damage. A 22-month research study conducted by the University of Glasgow’s Brain Injury Group discovered there was a five-fold increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s, four-fold increase in motor neurone disease and a two-fold increase in Parkinson’s. This study also revealed that former footballers are less likely to die from other common issues such as heart disease and cancer, and, on average lived three years longer. The FA confirmed that despite the study, there was not enough evidence to change any aspect of the game. German footballer Christoph Kramer interrupted the 2014 World Cup to ask the referee if he was indeed, playing in a World Cup Final. This incident came after Argentina’s centre back inadvertently slammed his shoulder into Kamer’s jaw when trying to retrieve the ball. Whilst suffering a concussion, Kamer was briefly assessed then allowed to re-enter the game where in the 31st minute, he collapsed to the ground and was substituted. Kamer has no recollection of from when he was hit till he came off the pitch. The Premier League is being urged to support a new industry-wide fund to cover care costs of former professional footballers living with dementia building up to a shareholders meeting next month. This idea was suggested by the Professional Footballers’ Association following the confirmation of the link between football and neurological disease. The PFA is now calling for “stakeholders in

Photograph / Action Images / Lee Smith

football to create an industry-wide fund to support former players affected by dementia”. The PFA is majorly funded by the Premier League’s broadcast rights and people are calling for its funding to come from the players and make it proportional to their wages. Currently, the highest paid Premier League players make more money in a fortnight than the PFA’s entire annual benevolent fund for former players. At the moment, the PFA funds limited care, counselling, respite, travel and changes to living spaces.

Siobhan MacDonald 2

Scotland’s Youth Climbing the European Ladder in Football Scotland’s Under-17s and Under-19s have secured their spots in the Elite Qualifying Round of the 2020 UEFA European Championships.

FOOTBALL The men’s and women’s teams sailed through their first rounds of qualifiers which took place throughout October.

First to book their place was the Pauline Hamill’s Women’s Under-19 side. They kicked off their campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory against Bulgaria with goals from Brogan Moore, Rebecca McGowan, Hannah Scott and Aisha Maughan. Despite not finding a breakthrough in a goalless draw against Croatia in their second match, the Scots secured a spot in the Elite Round with one game to go. A 1-0 win over Poland saw them top the group to round off a successful series of qualifiers.

Next up was the Men’s Under-19s who pulled off an impressive win against Germany in their final match to take the top spot in their group. Billy Stark’s side only managed to take one point from their first game after drawing 2-2 with Belarus, however wins in the other two games saw them finish above the Germans with seven points out of a possible nine. Pauline McDonald’s Women’s Under-17 squad continued the Scottish success with a second-

place finish in their group. They produced excellent performances against Northern Ireland and Montenegro, scoring eight goals and conceding just one. The Scots unfortunately fell to a 4-0 defeat against Italy in their final qualifier, but they had already done enough to proceed to the next round. Lastly, the Men’s Under-17s made it a full house. Wins against Armenia and Iceland put them joint top of their group alongside their final opponents Croatia, and secured qualification to the next round. The Scots unfortunately had to settle for second place after Croatia scored in the last minute to win 2-1 at Forthbank Stadium. This string of positive results for the young sides is good news for the future of international football in Scotland. A host of strong and talented players are coming up through the ranks and are proving themselves on a European stage. There are certainly a few rising stars to keep an eye on in these squads as they develop and undoubtedly break into the senior squads in years to come. The teams will now await their draws for the Elite Rounds which take place over the next few weeks. Should they be successful there, they will book their places at the finals held in across Europe next summer.

Erin Maguire Photograph / Unsplash / Klopp Alex Motoc

Sports

New Season Begins! As the new academic year begins, so does a new season of competitive swimming. The GCU swim team have already started on winning form after sealing an impressive win against the University of Abertay. The team set an excellent standard with their first challenge in this year’s opener of the Scottish Swimming University League in Dundee on Wednesday the 16th of October. As hosts of the contest, the University of Abertay welcomed eleven GCU swimmers as they made the trip from Glasgow and won comfortably, gaining 106 points to Abertay’s 54. The win against Dundee sees GCU at the top of league standings where they will be hoping to stay for the remainder of the season. The positive result against Abertay has also provided good momentum for the team for when they host Stirling University’s Seconds on Wednesday the 30th of October at Whitehall. Stirling will provide the team with a difficult challenge as Stirling University are home to the National Swim Academy and have a dedicated performance squad but the GCU team will certainly be up for the task. Filled with a busy league schedule the team have also been preparing for BUCS, the British University and College Sport Short Course Championships hosted at Sheffield from November 15th to the 17th. The Short Course Championship is one of the highlights of the swim team’s calendar as it gives them the opportunity to compete against some of the best universities in the UK. GCU have historically performed well at BUCS, seeing many swimmers making the finals of their chosen events and earning medals. The team will be hoping that this year will be no different.

The GCU squad has seen a growth in numbers over the last couple of years, with the current squad consisting of 45 swimmers in comparison to two years ago when there was less than 20. This has created a unique problem that lane space has become a premium, but coaches Lauren McKane, Ronan Payne, David Finnerty and Cameron Brown have done a great job in balancing busy training sessions. It is still early in the season and there is a lot of swimming still to be done but with a young and talented squad the GCU team of 2019/2020 will be hoping for a successful year ahead. For updates on the team’s performance throughout this year you can check out their social media below. GCUSwimming

Ali Ferguson

Young, talented squad Photographs / Facebook / GCU Swim Team

The Ugly Side to the Beautiful Game:

Although the beautiful game is at its most diverse around the world, recent events have shown that racism and football are never too far away from each other.

Racism & Football

The origins of racism in the sport date back to the first matches where black players were fielded, where it was commonplace for them to suffer racial abuse throughout their time on the pitch. While this doesn't reflect today's scenario - recent incidents have shown there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve an equal game.

“But it’s clear that Scotland is not immune from racism, and the fight to build a more tolerant and inclusive society is a fight for all of us.” This season, the SPFL said it would be working with clubs to tackle bad fan behaviour.

More so on the continent, demonstrated only weeks ago in the qualification stages of Euro 2020.

The Old Firm teams have also received charges from UEFA, with charges of sectarianism in Europe.

England talents, including Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, had to endure monkey noises throughout their match with Bulgaria- the only comfort they could take was thrashing the home side 6-0.

Scottish football has racism issues of its own – and it’s not just in the top division.

It's sometimes closer to home though, with Buchanan Street, receiving a visit from a mob of Lazio fans arriving in Glasgow for their Europa League tie with Celtic. Video evidence shows members of the crowd doing Nazi salutes as they walk through the city centre. The Italian top-tier side have an ongoing problem with their Ultra fans paying homage to Benito Mussolini, the fascist leader of Italy between 1922 and 1945, who was an ally of Adolf Hitler. Celtic fans displayed a banner in response to this during their match – a message that their fascism was not welcome here. Anas Sarwar, MSP for Glasgow, said: “There can be absolutely no place for racism in football grounds or anywhere in society. “Recent instances of footballers facing racist abuse have highlighted how much work is still needed to stamp out hatred and intolerance. That includes here in Scotland, as well as other parts of the UK and across the world.” He added: “It is encouraging, however, that many

clubs and authorities such as UEFA are finally taking instances very seriously.

Aberdeen University abandoned their match with Kincorth AFC early this year - with one of their players walking off the pitch saying he'd received racial abuse. Jordan Allison, Campaign Manager at Show Racism the Red Card, told the EDIT the problem goes way deeper than football. He said: “We feel over the last 5 years there has been a rise in racist rhetoric, whether that’s from politics across Europe and over the Atlantic and indeed over here in the UK, but it filters its way down into society and back into the football stands. “We like to think Scotland’s in a bubble where it doesn’t really affect us but that’s not the case at all and more needs to be done on a punishment level. “We feel, while punishment is necessary in the game of football, that education is the key to eradicate this long term and we need to work more with football clubs as an education charity. “We go into schools every day and we’re asked questions by the young people – why is this still happening in today’s society? – we need to respond to it – the way we respond to it will hopefully shape how the future generation responds and challenges racism.”

Fraser Nicoll

Photograph / Unsplash / Izuddin Helmi Adnan

" But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear that Scotland is not immune from racism, and the fight to build a more tolerant and inclusive society is a fight for all of us. "

The Glasgow Designers Tackling

Fast Fashion and Plus Size Inclusivity

By Sabrina Sigler

With the climate crisis in full effect, we are looking at our lifestyles to see what changes can be made to make a difference. From cutting down our use of disposable plastics to reducing our meat intake, another way has been looking at our material items and the waste generated by their manufacture and consumption - one of which is the clothes we wear.

Photograph / Unsplash

There are more and more alternatives to this vicious cycle of fast fashion. Some of the obvious ones being ditching the online stores and instead shopping at charity/vintage stores or having the “one in, one out” policy on new purchases. In terms of charity and vintage stores, Glasgow has a variety to choose from. From the Glasgow Vintage Company in Kelvinbridge, the long line of charity shops on Byres Road and the notable Mr Bens. Unfortunately, these stores can be restrictive in sizes and difficult for plus-size shoppers like me to discover a rare gem. Trying to shop at more ethical, independent stores is great too - especially for some unique finds. These places can often be inaccessible to those on a budget, although, you can rest assured that your money is funding an innovative independent designer. Plus size options can also exist in these stores but there is still a way to go in terms of sustainable size inclusivity. Some of my favourite Glasgow based independent environmentally conscious designers include WhatLydiaMade and GRLCLB, both class themselves as “slow fashion” with their garments being made and designed in Glasgow - often at home.

Fashion

WhatLydiaMade

GRLCLB is an online collective and store founded by Ruth Finn Leiser with values, of intersectionality, ethics, feminism and resistance at its core. GRLCLB stocks tote bags, slogan t-shirts and hoodies and accessories – all ethically manufactured in Glasgow. Many of Ruth’s slogans and designs reflect activism and women-centric experiences – a favourite product of mine being the “Walk Home Hoody” which illustrates the all too familiar act of grasping your keys in between your fingers when walking home at night. GRLCLB goes up to a 5XL with more sizes being introduced in the future. A great resource to use when trying to make your choices more sustainable is ethicalconsumer.org. This site has advice on how ethical the brands are you are funding are, giving them a score out of 10. They have information on lots of brands, from skincare to biscuits. The site also shares details of incidents which have happened to workers in their factories, proving that people often face immoral treatment as well as the environment by this industry. Thanks to Ruth @roobsgrlclb @grlclb

GRLCLB Photograph / GRLCLB

Photograph / WhatLydiaMade

Disclaimer: all photos used with designers permission.

Glasgow School of Art graduate, Lydia Morrow makes inclusive design-led underwear from her home studio in Glasgow. Lydia noticed that she had difficulty in finding underwear which was both stylish and came in her size so started making her own underwear and sharing it on Instagram. Here, she found that many other people felt the same way she did and that her product was in high demand. Her unique pieces are made to your measurements with a selection of contemporary colourways to choose from. Lydia also shares her own plus-size ethical fashion finds on her Instagram, many of which she finds on eBay. Lydia often discusses fast fashion concerning plus size clothing on her Instagram - even sometimes selling her pre-loved clothes via the platform. Thanks to Lydia @whatlydiamade

Love Actually - A Fashion Analysis

Love Actually (2003) is definitely my all-time favourite movie to watch around the festive period. It is a Christmas cocktail of a movie, with cinematic elements ranging from rom-com to comedy to tear-jerker – what’s not to love? However, what has always made it stand out to me is its impeccable showcase of early millennial fashion. Here are some of my favourite outfits from this Christmas classic! Warning – may contain spoilers!

Juliet’s Winter Wedding Dress

Natalie’s School Nativity Outfit

Juliet and Peter have the winter wedding of dreams in the opening scene of Love Actually.

Natalie is one of the most effortlessly stylish characters in the whole movie.

Juliet’s dress embodies the perfect balance of festive glam and feminine elegance – no wonder she has two men swooning over her throughout the movie!

She makes a tacky, itchy Christmas jumper look glamorous (before they were even in style) This jumper paired with the amazing Santa red cord jacket is a dream come true.

Fashion

Mia’s Girl-Boss Office Look Regardless of what we think of Mia (and her homewrecking ways) - it’s important to acknowledge how much sophistication her outfits provide.

Christmas Classic Disclaimer: All character images found on Pinterest and movie banner IMDB

Her office attire is totally empowering, the sharp black turtle neck and the pop of colour in the fitted skirt is extremely flattering. This whole outfit was ahead of its time.

Sarah’s Victory Dress Sarah is definitely one of the most loveable souls in the movie, she is so selfless and her sense of self is very much disregarded as she becomes a full-time carer for her sick brother.

When she finally takes Karl home, we see her noughties style blossom for the first time as she celebrates this victory. The velvet and sequin combo dress, paired with the plain but embroidered coat is the perfect wholesome outfit to compliment her personality.

Karen’s Joni Mitchell Breakdown Look

Perhaps the saddest scene in the whole movie. Viewers have wept with Karen every year since 2003 as she realises her husband is in the middle of an affair.

Her outfit screams melancholy, yet hope, as the contrast between the red cardigan and blue dress bring a softness to this upsetting scene. If you do one thing this Christmas, make sure you watch Love Actually – you will not be disappointed.

Kirsten Irvine

Wanted

Beauty this Christmas By Georgia Brown

Photograph / Farsali

Skincare

Holika Holika Pure Essence Mask Sheet Strawberry - £2.00 Sheet masks have honestly popped out of nowhere it seems; however Korean skincare is paving the way for new formulations and products. This mask is perfect for a stocking filler as it is inexpensive. The strawberry extract in these masks rejuvenate and nourish the skin. During winter, our skin can become dry and dehydrated due to the harsh weather conditions. With this mask you are ensured to have plump skin glowing from within. Again, this mask is available from beauty bay, and I highly recommend checking out Holika Holika’s other masks and products that can be tailored specifically to your skin type.

Farsali Rose Gold Elixer - £50 This elixir may be on the pricier side of skincare, but it doubles as a moisturiser, a serum and even as a base before makeup. A cult favourite for many makeup artists including those that prep the skin for Shay Michelle and Desi Perkins, known for their incredible glow. It is available on Beauty Bay and can be bought in store at Selfridges.

Christmas Day brings us twinkly lights, mulled wine and the overwhelming annoyance of a family lockdown. The Christmas season can be wonderfully awful, regardless of how you view Christmas here is a list of must have gifts for others, or if you’re like me, wee treats for yourself because god knows we deserve it.

The Ordinary Organic Rosehip Oil - £9 – I will preach over the ordinary until the day I die, the organic rosehip oil is anything but ordinary, it won the 2019 Haul of Fame award and is another cult favourite. If you have never tried the ordinary, I cannot recommend it enough, their products are affordable and incredibly effective. Rosehip oil is something my mum recommended and I shied away from it thinking it would be utterly useless, however it has transformed my skin and helped to improve the appearance of acne scarring, darkness and hyperpigmentation, all whilst keeping my skin hydrated and plump. If you buy one skin care product for yourself for the rest of the year, let it be this. The ordinary is available instore at House of Frasers also online at Beauty Bay and on Cult Beauty.

Glossier Balm Dot Com - $12/£9.33 – An iconic staple in everyone’s bag. The weather in Scotland can be so cold during the first few months of the year, and that means, chapped lips are inevitable. Chapped lips are sore, so I highly recommend balm dot com, glossier has a wonderful aesthetic, and when it comes down to products, the quality also remains high. They have an array of ‘flavours’ including birthday which is my personal favourite as it has a hint of glitter, they have also just launched a new berry shade with a tint which will be stunning during the winter months. If you don’t wish for some colour in your balm, they also have the original and mint formulas. It’s worth splashing out on. Available on the glossier website. Photograph / Glossier

Fashion

Artist Couture Diamond Glow Powder in Coco Bling - £30 – It tends to be thought that matte skin is the go-to for autumn and winter, however I believe the glow should stay all year round, as dewy skin suggests youth and nourishment. This is a cult favourite within the beauty community and has been for many years. Coco Bling may not be the correct shade for you; however, they have numerous shades to choose from. The highlighter is in the formulation of a powder that is finely milled, this gives the skin an extra dimension of glow and almost brings a dewiness from within. Rather than a shimmery pigmented streak of light, this highlighter acts almost as a clear reflect, giving that facetune glow but in real life. The diamond glow powder is available to buy from beauty bay and on cult beauty.

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored - £19 – The love I have for this lipstick cannot be compared, I wear red lipstick nearly every day and it must be the stunna lip. Christmas time is perfect for wearing red, and this lip colour will win your heart, trust me. The universally flattering shade of red is beautiful on every skin tone and every undertone, and that is guaranteed by Rihanna herself. This liquid lipstick has a unique applicator which makes a very defined lip line meaning you don’t need a lip liner for it to look immaculate. It lasts all day, through meals, coffees, dancing and drinking. If you need a new red lipstick or wish to start wearing red try the stunna lip out in Uncensored, I promise you, you will love it. Fenty beauty is available in Harvey Nichols, online and now has been launched in most Boots stores.

m The Jeffree Star X Shane Dawson Conspiracy Palette – If you caught Shane Dawson’s most recent web series, which premiered during the month of October. We saw the behind the scenes of the production of the product as well as the creative process behind the launch. As of just now the palette and the rest of the collection can be bought from beauty bay and online at Jeffree Star Cosmetics, however I’m sure that the collection will sell out almost instantly as soon as it restocks. The shades featured in the palette consist of wearable warm tones and transitions and a few splashes of colour. JS Cosmetics is known for its unique formulation when it comes to pressed pigments and eyeshadows, meaning this is the perfect palette for those wishing to experiment with makeup, beginners and those who are addicted to cosmetics. I cannot wait to have my hands on the palette, I truly believe it will revolutionise the entire cosmetic industry.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation - £43 – The newest foundation launch for Anastasia was much more successful than their previous stick foundation launch as the formula is better in terms of coverage and how it makes the skin look. The medium coverage foundation with a slight dewiness makes acne prone skin, dry skin and even combination skin look healthy and youthful. The shades range from very light to deeper tones and has all the undertones in between. Meaning this foundation truly does fit everyone. Even if you have an oilier skin type, with the right primer and setting powder this foundation will still make your skin look lovely and remain intact throughout the day. Anastasia Beverly Hills is still quite tricky to get a hold of in stores; however, you can get this foundation on Cult Beauty, Beauty Bay, Look Fantastic and online at Anastasia Beverly Hills’ UK website.

Photograph / LookFantastic

Photograph / FentyBeauty

Makeup

Photograph / Afia Kazmi

CHARITY CHARITY FOCUS: FOCUS:

The Halliday Foundation The Halliday Foundation has been operating since October 2018, with three ‘walking teams’ patrolling Glasgow city centre on a Tuesday and Sunday evening to help the homeless, vulnerable and less fortunate people on the streets. They also set up tables on the corner of Argyle Street and Glassford Street providing food options, hot drinks, clothing, sleeping bags, a barbering service and basic living essentials. Perhaps more importantly, they provide someone to talk to and a shoulder to cry on. Approximately 40 volunteers assist each evening with a huge demand from over 170 homeless and/or vulnerable people. “Homelessness is a complex social problem with a variety of underlying economic and social factors such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, uncertain physical and mental health, addictions and community and family breakdowns.”. A recent message on Facebook illustrates the massive impact the charity is having on people’s lives:

“

I would like to thank all at the Halliday Foundation who helped me and my partner when we were homeless and having a difficult time. I would like to let you know we now have temporary accommodation and are settled. Thanks again, we will be forever grateful.

“

The Halliday Foundation also visits service users if they are hospitalised and can help people access support for mental health issues.

Someone who has benefitted from this practical and emotional support is James (whose name has been changed to protect his privacy). He was hospitalised during the summer having been found close to death following months of rough living and substance abuse. James has had on-going support from the team who regularly visited him whilst in hospital until he was on the mend, and then encouraged him to engage in a narcotics support programme. James is now off the streets and living in temporary accommodation, hoping to move into a permanent place if he continues to attend support groups. He has been clean for several months and his goal is to become a mentor with the Halliday Foundation in the future. Chris Halliday (29), the founder of the Group, said; “Initially I started out on my own with support from family and friends, walking the city centre in the evening with a small cart serving hot drinks and a snack to people I saw ‘on the street’. I quickly realised that more help was needed due to the alarming number of homeless people in Glasgow. I set up our charity and am amazed at how it has grown over a relatively short period of time.” Charity status was awarded by OSCR, the Charities Commission in August 2019. Now that winter has arrived, it is an even more desperate situation for the service users and an appeal has been launched.

Gillian Poynt

Designer: Eilidh Mackay

News and Features

Unfolding Good Together A day where global ideas and thoughts were shared at our very own university as the first TEDxGlasgowCaledonianUniversity took place a bright October day.

12/10/19

After five months of hard work, the team met up early on a Saturday to make the last preparations before worldly speakers would take on the stage and the audience could sit back, relax and get new insights into how we together can work for good. Unfolding Good Together was the theme and the essence of the conference to create a conversation and present ideas that can inspire others. Ideas that help everyone do better. Speakers were from a local to a global scale. For instance, we had Benjamin Butterworth - a GCU PhD student studying the effect of alcohol consumption on memory, to Ross Reekie, an Australian, coaching others on how to find joy in their work. Two female scientists, Saba Yussouf and Timi Hesselhoj, shared their stories on becoming the scientists, they are today, and their inspiration. Alastair Gower, owner of Choctree, shared his ideas on how eating chocolate can save the world. Jeff Garner talked about sustainable fashion and methods to create to do better. Dr Mo Enayat talked about his journey from a little boy to a doctor using bio-hacking to create better lives. Mike Scott, owner of the largest social media agencies in Scotland, talked about creating a transparent business where people are transparent and genuinely nice. Vicky Brock, a start up guru, talked about the six steps to creating your own business and motivated everyone to find their ideas and explore them. Lastly, Ciara Jean Roberts talked about how to listen to our own bodies and have better mental and physical health. Together these speakers transformed their own journey into a shared idea with people from our university to the general public. A day full of entertainment and talks that few will forget. I, for sure, will never forget the moment I saw the TEDxGlasgowCaledonianUniversity-sign. Our countless hours had resulted in a highly successful conference and was now shared with the world. Hard work truly pays off and having such good team members was truly a pleasure. See you next year!

Tรณra Jรณhannusardรณttir

Designer: Eilidh Mackay Photography: Ashleigh Robertson

The Climate

CRISIS Climate change is underway, and affecting the entire planet. Headlines detailing extreme weather events seem to come day after day, yet people in powerful positions deny its full impact. As Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist puts it;

It seems people are indeed panicking, overwhelmed by the magnitude of issues facing the planet, leaving them feeling powerless. This feeling is for many fuelled further by the perception that individual contributions will not have an impact, as it is common knowledge corporations stand for the majority of carbon emissions and environmental pollution. This has led to a new phenomenon of ‘eco-anxiety’, a fairly new physiological disorder afflicting individuals who worry about the environmental crisis. If you feel ‘eco-anxiety’ is impacting your health, or if you for other reasons, care about the impact you have on the environment, there are a number of factors in the decisions you make which might help you not only feel better, but also do the right thing for the climate.

“

Adults keep saying, we owe it to the young people to give them hope. But I don’t want your hope, I don’t want you to be hopeful, I want you to panic.

News and Features

What You Eat According to the World Wide Fund (2008) The UK food chain accounts for 19% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, with 12% being accounted for by meat consumption. By switching to a flexitarian diet, eating mainly plant based, with small amounts of higher standard meat, fish and dairy, you will experience a number of benefits to your health and your environmental footprint. What it not to be forgotten, is the tremendous impact this diet might have on your finances – just making the switch away from meat for four meals a week could save your roughly £600-800 annually.

How you travel Travels can expand our minds, promote intercultural understanding, and provide wonderful content for Instagram. Unfortunately, it also severely impacts our planet. Instead of flying – simply try and take the train. Instead of taking the car to university or work, get on your bike or take a walk. This is not only going to have an impact on climate, it will also impact your pocket.

What You buy The fashion industry has a disastrous impact on the environment. In fact, it is the second largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry. As the industry grows, so does its damage. Did you know, that every clothing piece in the world gets used an average ten times before it ends up in landfill? In the UK alone it is estimated £140 million worth of clothing goes to into landfill each year. What can we do instead? It’s easy! Try to not by single-use clothing, shop from sustainable sources with stricter environmental focus, and buy as much as you can second-hand!

Gillian Poynt

Designer: Eilidh Mackay

ExTinction REbEll Unless you have been living under a rock this year, you will have heard about Extinction Rebellion. But who are they and what is their main goal? Some would say it is just to annoy Londoners trying to go about their days and earn a living. Most recently, Extinction Rebellion had a twoweek long protest in London which resulted in lots of press coverage and 1,768 arrests. In London, the aim was too “peacefully occupy the centres of power and shut them down”. The aim of the disruption was to encourage governments to takeaction against climate change. Extinction Rebellion is an international activist organisation using non-violent methods as their means of protesting.

W H AT DO T HE Y wan t? •

They want the government to declare a “climate and ecological emergency” and work together with other institutions to help spread the message calling for things to change?

•

They want the UK to “act now” to stop loss of habitat and reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025.

•

They want a special group called a Citizens’ Assembly to be put together. It would be made up of people from across society, to decide how to solve the climate crisis, with advice from experts.

Critics claim that these goals are highly unrealistic as it would require a lot of lifestyle and personal changes to the behaviour of people in the UK. Researchers at the Centre for Alternative Technology said it would be a huge challenge to get to zero emissions by 2025. For this to happen, flights would need to be restricted and people would need to make daily changes to eat a more plant-based diet and change how they travel. To get enough renewable energy to replace gas boilers we would need to install thousands more wind turbines.

WH AT D O T H E Y D O? There has been a variety of protests and methods that Extinction Rebellion has used to get attention to their protests. Members have glued themselves to trains, blocked traffic, chained themselves to politicians houses, planted trees on Waterloo Road and a smaller group protested at Heathrow causing delays to flights. These sometimes-controversial protests have resulted in a lot of arrests. One of their most publicised campaigns, spraying fake blood over a government building from a fire engine resulted in 8 activists being arrested. At the large protests held in April around 1,130 activists were arrested mainly because they didn’t move after police told them too. This resulted in a complete standstill of London’s busiest routes for more than 11 days.

News and Features

liOn TH E MOST RE cE NT cO NT ROV E RSY Extinction Rebellion is no stranger to controversy and criticism but the most recent round of this comes from a group of activists protesting on the trains at Stratford, Canning Town and Shadwell during rush hour. Eight protestors were arrested according to the British Transport Police and the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway were temporarily suspended. This incident caused controversy as members from the public dragged Extinction Rebellion activists down from the train, where there was footage of them being attacked by rail users. Most of the criticism stemmed from the fact that at these stations it is largely working-class citizens trying to use public transport to get to work â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something which should be applauded, not hindered. Targeting the big money areas of London makes sense, disrupt the days of the people who are in positions of power to change things â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not the everyday person trying to make ends meet.

Siobhan Macdonald

Designer: Eilidh Mackay

Disclaimer: Image used is copyright free and can be found on www.unsplash.com

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas... Christmas is definitely the most wonderful time of the year but unfortunately, it is proving to be a disaster for our environment and natural world. We are in the middle of a climate emergency and it is important that everyone does what they can to protect what is left of our world. Here are five ideas you could try to ensure your Christmas is a green one:

Tree

Many people adore the rustic experience of having a real tree and the process of going to pick your own. However, last year in the UK alone, 8 million trees were cut down from forests and landscapes. I don’t need to explain how important tree growth is for humans and the earth to survive. Opt for a plastic tree – they last for years and many of them look incredibly realistic.

Meat Intake

It is a well-known fact that food is an important way that everyone can cut down on their environmental impact. Everyone loves a traditional Christmas roast and I’m not saying that this should be eliminated, especially at Christmas when many look forward to having this meal with family. However, there are many ways that we can reduce our environmental impact when it comes to eating meat. The past decade has seen an impressive range of vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes make their way to supermarkets – why not try one out? But if you still can’t see past the traditional meal then don’t hate yourself for it – just purchase meat more mindfully. Purchase organic and free-range meats and support small-scale local farms whenever possible.

News and Features

Gift Wrapping

Decorations

Festive Activities

Kirsten Irvine

Designer: Eilidh Mackay Disclaimer: all images used are copyright free and can be found on www.unsplash.com

Join our team We would love to get more people involved in the magazine. You have the opportunity write articles on topics, you want to. You can create interesting visuals in photography or design. We would love to hear from you, so get in touch and hear the opportunities.

Photograph / Afia Kazmi

Entertainment and Technology

What The iPhone 11 Pro Cameras Mean For

THE FUTURE Apple

made a lot of announcements at their Keynote event in September and the iPhone 11 Pro’s three-camera setup was quite a big talking point amongst

those. Depending on who you are, it left you either very excited or very underwhelmed. However, there was one viewpoint towards the end of the Keynote that seemed to slip by without much conversation: what the new camera means for indie filmmakers.

Out of the box, the offering of lenses - 13mm ultra wide, 26mm wide and 52mm standard - is quite impressive. Think about the cost that would come from buying three professional camera lenses with the same distinct fields of vision as those in this phone. It’ll often not be that far off the price of this phone. And with the added advantage of being able to more readily and easily switch between, too. Swapping lenses in the Camera app is a simple thing. And in filmmaking, every second spared is valuable. With Filmic Pro things get even more interesting. Not only as a director are you able to see all three lens views at once, you can also shoot from more than one at the same time. Think about that for a second. You can get double the coverage from one take – handy again for sparing time and, technically, double the shot – meaning you’ve got more choice when you get to editing your film. Sure, maybe you planned that shot as a wide shot but maybe you have the serendipitous discovery that the ultra-wide gives the effect you want but better? In some sense, you’re getting two cameras for the price of one. Of course, we mustn’t leave aside the front-facing camera in all of this either. The ability to record the front-facing lens as well as one of the other three raises an amazing realm of possibilities. The ability to have a shot of someone walking towards

camera followed by one of them walking away means minimal disturbance of continuity. A single camera standing between two actors conversing in a scene, capturing both their performances in tandem. Even the benefit for interviews and reaction videos speaks for itself. And that’s before you think about portable mounts, night mode, lighting combinations, splicing two different shots of the same view… With 60fps 4K video capture, it’s also a sure thing that the visual quality of your realised creative passions will look impressive and will give you a little bit of future-proofing as the world moves further forwards from the 1080p era. It also fits in your pocket - no wieldy camera bag to lug around. And (presuming it’s yours and not one of your crew or cast members) you can also use it for everything else that you’d need a phone to do. iPhone 11 Pro will surely revolutionise indie filmmaking. One thousand pounds may still be hefty for many, but it’s a far cry from what once was an incredibly expensive venture. And even if you can’t afford it now, fear not: remember when iPhone 5s came down in price and the world’s creatives flooded the internet with media that proudly stated ‘Made on iPhone 5’? Just think about when ‘Made on iPhone 11 Pro’ becomes a common sight.

Photograph / Apple

My take-away from what we’ve seen is that the iPhone 11 Pro will change indie filmmakers’ lives entirely. Yes, I can hear you cry that it’s not by any means cheap (and there’s another £30 for the Filmic Pro app and all it has to offer) but…hear me out on this.

Jamie Hartley Cowan Designer: Nicole Blair

Secrets

Official

Official Secrets is a film

adaptation of the true story of Katharine Gun, a British Intelligence specialist who decides to rebel against the British government by leaking a document she comes into contact with at work. The document reveals that the US is slyly enlisting Britain’s help to gain support for the commencement of the Iraq war. Taking a stand for the British public, who Katherine believes would not support what America is asking of Britain, she sends the document to a friend involved in anti-war campaigning, who then passes it into the hands of The Observer newspaper.

Photograph / Entertainment One

Keira Knightley’s portrayal of Katherine Gun, a woman struggling with the

consequences of doing the right thing instead of taking the easy option is an eyeopener. Gun’s actions force us to think about the decisions we make in life and how it only takes one person to make a dramatic change in the world – or at least try to. The entire film revolves around her decision to question her morals instead of letting the government and society take control of everything we do. Meanwhile, Matt Smith’s role as a newspaper journalist Martin Bright is equally important by conveying the power of the press. Gun makes the difficult and incredibly risky decision to leak the documents, but it is Martin Bright and the team of journalists at The Observer

that give it a platform and the power to enlighten the British public on what is really going on within government, and to let the NSA know they won’t get away with swaying this massive decision without being exposed. While the main story revolves around the work and lives of Katherine Gun and Martin Bright, there are elements within the film which differentiate Official Secrets from any other political drama. Katherine’s husband, Yasar ( Adam Bakri) is an immigrant, living with her in the UK and working most days at a local coffee shop. However, as Katherine becomes increasingly involved with the police for essentially committing treason, her husband is treated horribly by the UK government services and is almost deported. The heart wrenching scenes between them add emotional depth. Director Gavin Hood excellently captures this story from the side of both the whistleblower and the journalist, only showing Katherine Gun and Martin Bright meet for the first time right before the trial. Reminiscent of the 2013 leaks by Edward Snowden, Official Secrets has the ability to inspire change and rebellion, while reminding us that there is so much we as the public simply do not know.

Mary Boag

Designer: Nicole Blair

Entertainment and Technology

Unbe li eva nb elievable Netflix’s latest true crime series, Unbelievable , is as terrifying as it is fascinating0.

These are the harrowing statistics that Unbelievable helps to highlight. The series, a dark and heartbreaking retelling of 18-year-old Marie Adler’s rape case, was released in September, but it will linger in your mind for years. In just eight episodes, producer Susannah Grant recreated the true story of Marie’s journey, played by Kaitlyn Denver, from the rape she faced in her home in Washington state, to police malpractice during questioning and an astounding lack of support from her loved ones. Unbelievable is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning article which covered the same story, published on the investigative site ProPublica. It not only follows Marie’s own journey, but that of the two female detectives who years later played a large role in uncovering the truth. The series is incredibly well made, accurately and carefully depicting the horrible and often misrepresented topic of sexual assault to create an incredibly emotive experience for those watching. Focusing on the sense of unknown, it avoids the clichés and voyeurisms that often accompany rape stories, telling the story of Marie’s emotions, conversations and life following the rape, instead of telling a simplified, graphic story about sexual assault.

It touches on the all-too-common theme of blaming victims for their own sexual assault, often done by nit-picking apart testimonies and claiming that rape accusations are fiction. It also very powerfully portrays how Marie Adler’s past, a history of living in foster homes and suffering abuse, played a large part in the lack of support she received. As we follow the events, we see how her living situation and history are key points to those involved, shown on screen to viewers and mentioned within the documentary itself as though they are character traits. Photograph / Netflix

According to RAIN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), every 73 seconds, someone in North America is sexually assaulted. Of the perpetrators, less than 1% will go to prison.

The eight episodes tell the story in two parts: by following Marie, and by following the two detectives who work on the case three years later. Toni Collette and Merritt Weaver, who play detectives Grace Rasmussen and Karen Duvall, do an impressive job of portraying a sense of fear and determination that convey the exact sense of horror viewers expect from detectives searching for a rapist. It is Kaitlyn Denver, however, who steals the show. The fear and panic that she portrays on screen is offset by a disorientating sense of disinterest and confusion, capturing Marie Adler’s emotions in their entirety and causing viewers themselves to question her integrity. The show does so much more than reveal Marie’s truth, it tells the story of a broken criminal justice system, and the judgement that is placed on rape victims, especially those who do not come from the right background.

Nicola Gray Designer: Nicole Blair

Illustrated by Megan Beattie

Written by Erin Sarah Lindsay

Co-Star:

The Horoscope App You Didn’t Know You Needed There are a few occasions every year where it seems all of our Twitter feeds are hooked on a brand new app. Most recently, Zepeto introduced us to an online community where you can create your avatar and explore the many landscapes and areas the app offers. Within these areas you can interact with other users from around the world, visit their homes and also work for Zepeto money to navigate the app’s daily grind as an avatar. But the craze soon died down, there are no longer pictures posted to Twitter of self-curated avatars that are supposed to look like us but don’t actually. Co-Star swept in and seamlessly took the position as ‘The App Everyone Is Talking About’. By the time it first came to light, Twitter had already turned into a collective of deep-thinking horoscope fanatics who would religiously post about what events and insights their day would bring, according to the accurate technicalities behind the workings of the app.

The app collects its knowledge through tracking the movement of planets. It uses NASA data paired with predictions based on the map of the sky at the time and place of your birth to generate hyper-personalised horoscopes that no other website, app or platform has been able to achieve before. Popular astrologers Astro Poets (@poetastrologers on Twitter) and Madame Clairevoyant (@ MmeClairevoyant on Twitter) who write for W Magazine and The Cut respectively, will tailor your daily, weekly and monthly horoscopes based on your sun sign alone. Co-Star will bear this in mind, but it will also analyse the moon and the rest of the planets in the solar system and how they relate to you. An aspect of astrology which may be unfamiliar to many, and which Co-Star also takes into account, are the twelve houses. Each house represents a key part in life, from money, health, relationships and everything in-between.

completely changes who you are. And that's why Co-Star is so proficient; because it considers everything to create an extremely accurate horoscope which is so unique to you. There’s also the social aspect: you can add your friends on the app, which will give you in-depth comparisons between your data to identify where you vibe and where you could improve. For example, I can look at my friends’ profiles and see that I am compatible in the intellect and communication section with one, and lacking in the sense of responsibility section with another. But don’t we all have that one friend we’re reckless with anyway?

The most notable feature of Co-Star are the daily notifications. If you want a more thorough judgment on what your day will hold, going into the first page of the app will give you a quick summary of what to control for that day, where your area of power lies (i.e. love), what you will feel pressure in (i.e. work), and what you might have trouble with (i.e. spirituality). You may be a loyal Scorpio, but This acts as a helpful heads up, if you have a Taurus moon or especially if you find yourself Virgo rising, that stressing about a presentation,

a date or a job interview that day. Unlike Zepeto, Co-Star is not one of those apps that will come and go. Horoscopes are becoming more popular, and in a way, we need them. We obviously can tell if we woke up in a bad mood one day and the world is out to get us. But horoscopes give us comfort. One that goes so in depth like Co-Star is something that has become a daily staple in life for many. It expands your typical horoscopes to consider prospects which no other website or app has been able to do in such an accessible manner. In no way will Co-Star make your life easier, but it will help you identify yourself and your feelings, emotions and concerns, making your daily grind that tiny bit more bearable.

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Christmas is just around the corner and as exciting as it can be there are some aspects that hurt the environment. More and more people talk about sustainable ways of living and how to help with climate change. Here are some ideas of how best to have a more ‘Green’ Christmas!

Christmas Gifting

When purchasing presents think about where to get them from and what you are purchasing. Consider shopping in-store rather than shopping online. Think about what you’re buying, how you travel to the shops and what kind of products they are. For example, if buying cosmetic items consider if the brand is cruelty-free or not! Remember that not all gifts have to be store-bought, nowadays adults prefer something that is thoughtful and homemade, examples may include personalised cards or a photo album or even a voucher for a nice meal. Make the present meaningful whilst also being more caring for the environment. Gifts Made from Recycled Items or from local shops- here in Glasgow we see more and more companies starting up which are all about ‘homemade’ or ‘personalised’ gifts. Things like this are ideal for Christmas and also make a present even more special!

Giving Gifts For Christmas Food at Christmas Christmas is an amazing time of year traditionally filled with great food, however, with that also comes a lot of food waste. Make sure you consider this when it comes to this years festive period. Food waste- Make sure you have plenty of biodegradable waste bags to hand so that you can properly dispose of any food waste after your Christmas dinner! Got leftover food that is still good for eating and don’t know what to do with it? Freeze leftover meat or keep for yourself for the few days after Christmas for lunches, or, better yet, take it to your local food bank or give to your local homeless. Also, consider where you get your food from, try organic and free-range food and if possible small-scale farming. Put good research into your Christmas Shopping List! Christmas is a wonderful time of year but if you want to be able to spend it with your family in the future you should definitely take some of these issues into account and try to do at least one thing to be more ‘green’ this Christmas!

Re-gifting- If you have things at home that you have not used but they’re in a good condition there is absolutely no harm in re-gifting them to someone else that you feel would get more use out of them than you would!

Giving Gifts Think about your Decorations Use LED Lights- they are far better energy-usage wise! LED lights use up to 95% less energy than larger, traditional holiday bulbs and last up to 100,000 hours when used indoors, so they are a great investment and can be reused until they run out. Purchase a live tree rather than using a plastic one- it will be more traditional and you can replant it when the festive period is over. An added bonus would be the wonderful pine smell in your home!

Make sure you consider how you wrap up your gifts as wrapping paper can’t be recycled due to different designs that most high street wrapping papers tend to have on them. Research suggests that paper waste over the Christmas period is equivalent to 5-12 million litres of biofuel – enough to power a bus to go to the moon over 15 times. Here are some alternatives you can consider! Use brown paper! This can be recycled and is quite simplistic and you can personalise it whatever way you wish. It’s great if you’re a creative person and you can make funky labels to personalise it in your own unique way! Use what you already have- reuse gift bags as realistically the majority of households tend to have gift bags leftover from past celebrations so why not save yourself some money and recycle them? It makes the most sense! Another great way to gift presents is to put gifts in boxes, this is ideal as realistically, people would use something like this for storage whether it be for general items or as a ‘memory box’ of some sort.

Monica Allen Designer: Louise Speirs

Arts and Culture

Loco

Bingo Bingo Loco is an experience like no other, it is taking Glasgow by storm with tickets selling out almost as soon as they go on sale. Held in the O2 Academy, this fusion of bingo and rave creates one of the best nights out you will experience in Glasgow. You receive your bingo card and pen and participate in a massive game of bingo, with a twist. The prizes are almost ludicrous but very Glaswegian. For example; a bottle of Buckfast, a four pack of Tennents a voucher for Greggs and many more. The final and best prize of the evening is always a weekend city break to somewhere like Dublin. There is a DJ who provides the music for the entire night and who is also heavily involved in hyping up the audience and getting everyone up dancing. In between rounds they have a quick five minutes of music and halfway through the night glow sticks are handed out for a 15-minute rave before the last two rounds of Bingo. There wasn’t a single person, staff included, who didn’t have a little dance at some point throughout the night. The three presenters didn’t stop dancing and I was actually surprised they didn’t pass out from exhaustion.

Special cocktails specifically for the event were also on sale at the bar at a very reasonable price and queues for the toilets were never excessive. There are warnings on all of the tables and chairs not to climb on any of them as they are quite delicate and would probably collapse, so even if you end up drunker than you’ve ever been remember not to climb! If you end up not winning any prizes the night as a whole beyond makes up for that and you will definitely not be in the mood to go straight home when it finishes. Tickets cost £15 each and can be purchased on the Bingo Loco website.

Erin Paterson

Designer: Louise Speirs

Photograph / Facebook / Bingo Loco

Scotland Sashay Away

Photograph / Instagram / chanel_o_conor

Arts and Culture

With RuPaul’s Drag Race finally making it to UK screens on BBC Three you can imagine the excitement and buzz it brings to the nation. The US-reality show watches drag queens compete in entertainment-themed challenges and runway looks to be crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar. Unfortunately, no Scottish queens were invited to compete for the crown on the UK edition. The lack of representation might lead you to believe that Scotland’s drag scene is not worth the screen time, however that is far from the truth. In the past few years drag in Scotland has gone from a handful of queens to a movement sweeping the kingdom. One Scottish drag queen talks about how disappointed she is to see the lack of representation in Drag Race, especially when the show taught him to be his true self throughout his drag childhood. Conor MacDonald grew up in the Isle of Bute but he was never truly content there. “There wasn’t any other gay people or queer people on the island. Literally I felt so alone to the point of I only thought there was like two other gay people in the world one of them being John Barrowman.” Growing up on the island meant that everyone knew almost everything about anyone. He had to lock his drag persona, Chanel O’Conor, in the closet and avoid suspicion from the other islanders. “For a while I used to do drag so secretly to the point where I would only ever practise makeup at 2 o’clock in the morning when I knew my whole family were dead asleep. “If I was ever buying make-up, I would get all of my girl pals to buy it for me.” Eventually Conor grew the confidence to tell his parents, in particular his mum about his well-kept secret and received the best support and love he could have ever hoped for.

“In order to fulfil your potential, you need to let go of your fears.” Last year BBC announced the UK version of the popular show with chatty man Alan Carr, Strictly’s Michelle Visage, Graham Norton and Ru Paul himself as the judges. Conor was worried that the show would bring back negativity toward drag queen’s and force them to return to where they all began before being accepted as performers. “The announcement of RuPaul UK sent worry waves through the drag community, and the worry has only heightened since the show airing because drags queen in the UK simply just didn’t know what reaction to expect.” It was also confirmed that RuPaul picked the contestants himself. When talking about the show Chanel said: “The cast is full of CIS male drags which is utterly unrepresentative of where the best drag in Britain exists.” “There are so many forms of drag in the UK from alternative, characters, creatures. It is just annoying when people are asked to name locations in the UK they can only think of London or Manchester… ummm… hello you are missing the best country… Scotland!” The heart of UK drag is not about polish perfect runway looks. It is mainly about entertainment by challenging the system around us through controversial topics such as punk politics and gender subversion. “Drag in Scotland is the driving force behind a lot of cultural changes that are going on right now. We are trying our best to allow all walks of life and be multicultural, but yet in some rural place drag queens are still hiding because of the fear of not being accepted.

“With her showing support I could show support and love back, to the point I could be open and honest with her about what Chanel’s up to, what shows she would be performing and what she would be wearing.”

When asked about why he watched the US-version of RuPaul as a child he said: “That show taught me to love myself regardless of what anyone thinks. When I was scared of telling people I knew in the back of my mind that I had a drag family out there and I needed to find them.”

Conor began doing stand-up gigs and Edinburgh Fringe shows as Chanel.

RuPaul get your act together and let the Scottish queens be heard.

“The reason I do drag is because I have so much creativity that I feel like I have honed into this one being and entity that is Chanel O’ Conor. “You hear these stories of queer people or people who just don’t follow paths that their parents and the people supporting them lay out for them.

Tempany Grace

Designer: Louise Speirs

Opinion Piece Clout

If you asked me a year ago what the term “clout” meant, I probably wouldn’t have been able to answer you. I’ve always been a little bit behind when it comes to social media trends, so when a friend retweeted something a few months ago calling someone a “clout chaser”, I ended up googling the word. Google Dictionary describes clout as: “influence or power, especially in politics or business.” It’s recently shot up in popularity, however, due to its use in relation to social media. As Urban Dictionary tells us: “clout is being famous and having influence,” or, more specifically: “wanting attention on social media.” Earlier this year, Elon Musk declared on Twitter that he was going to donate 1 million trees to Team Trees, a tree planting charity, in response to a Twitter thread about their work. Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, shortly followed suit with 150,000.

fact, it seems that today, any time an influencer starts a campaign for good, they are met with the same comments. I didn’t even know what the word meant until recently, but I can see the logic behind these accusations. It’s difficult to see a social media announcement and not wonder about the motives behind it, especially when it comes to influencers, who literally make money as a result of their so-called “clout”. It reminds me a lot of cancel culture – the social media trend of “cancelling” influencers who do something you disagree with by refusing to engage with them online.

Social Media

The organisation was already sparking conversation on social media thanks to American Youtube star Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, who is attempting to plant 20 million trees around the world by 2020.

Something in common with all of the stars who have donated to Team Trees, however, is that they all have been accused of chasing clout. Multiple people online seem convinced that the entire campaign is just an attempt to gain followers, likes, and social media attention, and it’s not the only campaign to be faced with this criticism. In

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While we’ve already heard a number of arguments behind cancel culture’s negative impact, however, clout accusations haven’t stirred up much of an argument yet. It seems harmless, which is probably why, but taking a positive (such as the planting of 1 million trees) and turning it into a negative could, in time, become harmful in nature. If influencers are starting projects and campaigns that do good, we should support them as much as possible. And who cares if it’s just for clout? 1 million trees are still 1 million trees, whatever the reason behind them.

Nicola Gray

Designer: Louise Speirs

Arts and Culture

A Reflection of Christmas

We say Christmas is a time for families being together, giving gifts and a time of joy. I reflect over the Christmas’ I have spent as a service wife. Many a Christmas morning sitting with my daughter in front of the Christmas tree looking at the presents whilst my husband and her dad are away at sea. We both take the envelope from under the tree with anticipation knowing it contains special words written by him before he left for duty. She opens it and reads it aloud and we both have tears in our eyes from his words. These words are special, the most precious present we open on Christmas day. Through time we come to realise that whilst Christmas is a commercial driven holiday, in spite of this it’s not about how much you spend on gifts or even if you get a gift, it’s about the love for each other and the gratitude that your loved ones can be with you at this festive time. As we move through our life’s things change and loved ones pass, Christmas becomes different, but remember those who went before us, we continue their family rituals. We learned them from our parents as children. We continue these rituals as adults with our own children and now our children will take these rituals forward and form new ones. My husband is home now, my daughter has a love of her own and is starting a new life with him in their own home. I love nothing more than spending Christmas with my family but I always remember those no longer with us and those still in the Armed Forces all over the world who spend the time away from home and their loved ones so we can sleep safe in our bed at night. This is a gift than money can’t buy.

Mary Welsh

Jingling the Globe As the air gets chillier and Santa’s getting ready to descend all chimneys, most Western families have placed on a table some biscuits and a glass of milk for him. But is the whole world prepared for the happiness that Father Christmas brings, or can it be that some are not waiting for him at all? The thought of Christmas lights being off somewhere around the world does sound unbelievable, however this festivity is not popular in several countries. An example may be the non-Christian nation of Qatar which does not even recognize Christmas as a public holiday. If you want to get into the Christmassy mood at all costs, you can go to hotels such as the Ritz Carlton which serves an annual Christmas Eve buffet and have a great feast without going through the trouble of cooking it yourself. Cities like Istanbul, in Turkey, will have a few decorations on, but do not expect the locals to have the same excitement as you. Truth is that most of the Turkish population does not care about the buzz around Christmastime, so do not bother explaining yourself, you will end up looking nothing but a weirdo. Surely, it can be off-putting and saddening for a person that has been anxiously waiting for December to see such unbothered faces, nevertheless there is always the opportunity of taking a trip to the South-eastern area of Turkey where Turkish Assyrians organize a small Christmas feast called “Eeda Zura”. Again, you might be shocked to discover that in Japan the holiday holds a completely different concept from the one Westerners have, which is on Christmas being a period to spend with the family. Japanese people see the festivity as a way through which couples can dedicate evenings to being together and enjoy romantic dinners. Christmastime in Japan is almost like a doppelgänger of Valentine’s Day. Indeed, Christmas is not a global holiday as the euphoria around it suggests. Certain countries would rather sleep away the 25th of December than wait for a white bearded man to suddenly jump out from their chimneys. When we are jingling around the globe, let us bear in mind that not all Christmas lights will turn on at our singing. There might be no lights at all.

Christiana Opoku A. Designer: Louise Speirs

Dry Cleaning

This quartet have shared the second single off their forthcoming EP Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks (their second EP in just over 4 months), entitled Viking Hair. Fans can expect to hear their classic melodic guitar motifs ring out over an energised rhythm which is quickly becoming the group’s trademark sound. The band has also won over support from the LGBT community by raising awareness of an LGBT line dancing class based in London in the music video for Viking Hair.

8th March – The Hydro

Kisstory presents: The Blast Off!

A compilation of some of the biggest names in RnB, HipHop and Garage from the 90s and early 00s is sure to get the nostalgia flowing. A tour of this format is rare these days and with names such as Nelly, Salt N Pepa, Shaggy and Fatman Scoop on the setlist it’s going to be one to remember. There is also going to be exclusive appearances from the likes of So Solids Lisa Maffia, DJ Luke 7 MC Neat as well as Sweet Female Attitude.

Callum McQuade 33

2nd March - SWG3

He’s had a string of collaborations in the charts over the last couple of years with artists including RAYE, Bebe Rexha and MNEK and Jax Jones is heading out on his biggest tour yet. Following the longawaited release of his debut album Snacks (Supersize) one of the UK’s most underrated DJs will take to the Scottish stage for the first time in almost two years.

14th February - The Hug and Pint

21st March - O2 Academy

Jax Jones

As we edge ever closer to the third decade of the 21st century let’s look at just some of the big names heading to Glasgow in the coming months.

Jonas Blue

One of the country’s leading singer/songwriters will be dropping by the city for one of just six tour dates as part of a very special tour. With over 8 billion streams and 45 million single sales, Jonas has become a mainstage DJ within a few short years. The Blueprint tour is sure to feature his biggest hits as well as a few fresh tunes.

Music

2020 Has Plenty

Music

Many have a preconceived idea of who Little Mix are as a band because of just a handful of their songs we hear on the radio all the time. However, if you scratch a little below the surface you can be assured that you will be pleasantly surprised with what you discover. Upon listening to their perhaps less popular music and paying attention to the lyrics as well as the sound, you can piece together what these four girls are truly about.

Not so

They are much more than a pop band churning out chart toppers with a catchy beat, they explore feminism and equality, among other themes, as well as deeper meanings in their earlier albums such as self-confidence, mental health and loneliness. With Jesy’s recent documentary discussing her struggles with mental health after being exposed to millions of people during her time on The X Factor- there’s no time better than now to highlight these hidden gems. Their concert on October 18 at the Hydro could easily have been described as a rally for feminism and this entirely worked in their favour. It was the beginning of a movement, their movement. From the onset, female empowerment was established as the main theme of the night as they opened with their song National Manthem. They effortlessly carried this throughout, with every set and outfit change bringing more power to them. A song that deserves an honorary mention for this would be Wasabi, as they opened the track with a clip of Piers Morgan. He says the group should issue an apology after a disagreement erupted between them over his views on their single, Strip, in which Morgan accuses them of vusing sex to sell albums. They effortlessly transitioned from a clip of him demanding they “say it to his face” to the same line in their hit song and appear back onstage looking flawless in sexy outfits. This shows that women can be comfortable in their body and sexuality as well as preach feminism, completely hitting back at Morgan’s claim.

Another standout moment was their song Woman’s World. Not only does this song showcase the incredible talents of the girls as individuals and as a group unit, it grips the listener with the shockingly blunt and truthful lyrics. Using music as a mode to convey such a strong message about an extremely pertinent issue – female oppression in the workplace and everyday life. Such an important conversation and is without a doubt inspirational. Little Mix aren’t the same pop girl group they were on The X Factor. They have grown and matured beyond their years. They aren’t just little girls on our TV anymore, they are activists.

Rachel Gibson

Photograph / Flickr.com / Macren27

Taking on the Charts like an Animal:

John Newman After battling brain tumours and depression, singer John Newman is back in the charts and aiming for a top ten.

His song with Scottish artist Nina Nesbitt, Without You, is part of his latest EP, A.N.i.M.A.L, which is slowly climbing up the charts and he is doing everything he can to push it up the table. The Yorkshire star is no stranger to topping the charts with three number ones to his name in his short career so far. However, it’s not been an easy journey to the top and he was hit with the shattering news he had a brain tumour in 2012. Speaking to The EDIT ahead of his show at the Old Fruitmarket as part of his EP tour, the 29-yearold recalled the diagnosis and explained the vital role of the NHS. “As always the NHS is up in the air and everyone’s worrying about politics and what is going on. “People are forgetting about the importance of the NHS. I didn’t go to any fancy private doctor or anything I went to my local eye hospital and then on the NHS Hospital system.” At the time the tumour was benign and removed, with John continuing to make music and achieving a number one with his debut album Tribute. However as his career began to soar, he got another setback as the tumour returned as cancerous in 2016 which meant he had to undergo radiotherapy, putting his music on hold for the second time. Since recovering from illness, the musician has worked with charities to give recognition to the subject but confesses he’s no fountain of knowledge. “I work with charities such as the brain tumour foundation to give people an insight into my story. “To be honest just because I have had three number ones it doesn’t put me in a position to tell people how to deal with stuff like that that because I didn’t know how to deal with it.

“I’m not one of these people that’s like I’m amazing because I’ve done well and I can tell you everything, it’s not me. ”When I was going through that situation I was like I don’t need some American rapper telling me how to go through a brain tumour.” The singer then went through a long process of recovery for two years before he returned with the single Fire In Me in 2018. Earlier this year he dropped the track Feelings before his latest single with Nesbit and his latest EP, which he says has been a long time coming. “It’s been in the works for so long, music has become so formulaic and I began to I feel like I was following a formula. “I didn’t have as much production rights before and everyone was saying just leave it, but then anyone can sing it and anyone can do it. “These were the four singles I wanted to put out as a music producer, a songwriter and a singer that make me feel good, so that’s why seeing even two people listen to it is amazing.” Newman admits formulas are something so prevalent in modern music and acknowledges the industry has changed rapidly over the last 7 years since his first chart topper. Despite the negatives he does admit there are some positives such as the ability to work at volume and put out riskier songs. He is also full of admiration for modern stars who are taking risks and breaking free from the mould such as Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi. “Everyone’s sat on the fence until a hit goes over the wall and then everyone chases down the road after it. “Someone that has just changed that formula completely from posing for likes on Instagram

to polished music and totally shredded that apart is Lewis Capaldi. “The likes of Billie Eilish [also] are killing it, she’s not even a risk taker, people are calling her that but she’s doing what she loves. “It’s amazing to see that in these times that good songs, true artists and cool people still break the boundaries.” The musician says he’s glad to be able to take chances by being back in full creative control of his music. He admitted to being blinded by the lights of fame, focusing on the high life and forgetting about making music that makes his heart bleed like he needs it to. The Englishman has been very open in the past about his struggles with anxiety and depression and says music has been a fantastic tool to help combat his issues. “It wasn’t me trying to be popular when I released a statement saying that I was suffering from depression and anxiety it’s because I felt a bit ashamed that I had not been experimenting with my music and allowing formulas to take over. “It was part of my healing process, to tell everyone I’ve been experimenting to try and crack this and I think now I have and I feel great about my music and what I’m releasing. “Music can be a healing device if you are open enough to allow it to be, it’s kept me on such a sane level. “It’s why I’m sat here today and it’s why I’m aiming to play Wembley stadium because I’m ready for the challenge and I never want it out of my life.” As the revolution of John Newman continues you can help him get back to the top by streaming Without You on Spotify and buy the single on Apple Music.

Lewis Moynihan

â&#x20AC;&#x153; Photograph / Chuff Media

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing to see that in these times that good songs, true artists and cool people still break the boundaries.

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