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Month: October 2014

Live: Eliza and the Bear

6th October

Ruby Lounge

4/10

Last Monday I went to the Ruby Lounge for the first time ever and quickly fell in love with the place. It’s a really cute venue, with velvet curtains and a fancy bar.  I didn’t go for a sightsee though, but instead to watch Eliza and the Bear and their support, Lisbon.

Lisbon kicked the night off well, with strong vocals, heavy drums and cyclical guitar riffs that worm their way into your psyche. Their more upbeat tracks like ‘Hustle’ sound like Little Comets fronted by Willy Moon. Honestly, I might actually have preferred them to what was to follow.

As the seemingly never-ending string of Eliza and the Bear members walked on stage, the crowd looked on, enamoured.  To kick the night off, they launched into arguably their most well-know song—that one from that Bulmers advert, also known as ‘Friends’. This was a pretty brave move and, honestly, I don’t think it paid off. Towards the end a divide was created between the die-hard fans dancing to every song and the bored people chatting in the back, who had lost interest a while ago.

There was something about the band that reminded me of watching All Time Low in my less-cool teenage years, complete with a scarily preteen-looking crowd. Like All Time Low, their songs have that quality where they are instantly recognisable, with big, repetitive choruses that were made to be sung along to. Sure some of it felt like filler, but their fans seemed to enjoy it.

Despite the energy that the band put into their set, to me it felt like a bit of a damp squib.

Interview: Skiddle launches ’25 under 25’ initiative to discover new promoters

Clearly not content with simply selling tickets for tens of thousands of events all over the UK, leading ticket agency Skiddle recently unveiled a new competition. We spoke to Jimmy, Skiddle’s Head of Content and Communication, to figure out what exactly is going on.

The initiative, named ’25 under 25,’ aims to recognize and support a new generation of UK amateur music promoters and event managers. Through this initiative, Skiddle hope to find “the stars of tomorrow, and develop them.”

Unlike other ticketing websites that only focus on high-profile events, Skiddle has long been the champion of both established and up-and-coming event organizers. They maintain the ethos that “every single person who is selling tickets, irrespective of what it is for, deserves a good service.” They see ’25 under 25′ as an extension of this, and as an “investment in the industry’s future.”

According to Jimmy, Skiddle chose to do this competition as they have already seen many promoters develop since 2006, when they began selling tickets. Many talented promoters who they first worked with on smaller nights have gone on to do bigger and better things, and Skiddle sees ’25 under 25’ as a way of “finding and nurturing” this talent before it develops.

Despite this being their first formal competition, they hope to make it “something that carries on year upon year,” though possibly on a larger scale. Judging by the “strong entries” that have already come forward this year, it seems like there might be a lot of untapped talent in this area.

To be eligible a promoter has to have successfully ran one event between the start of the competition and Sunday the 14th of December, to have sold a minimum of 20 tickets with skiddle, and of course they must be under 25. From there, a shortlist of 25 people will be picked, and after new year one overall winner will be chosen from this group.

They will be given a variety of invaluable prizes in 2015, including a full year’s worth of ‘promotion pack’, which will be personally tailored to them and their event. This will include things like support promoting their event, mentoring from industry experts, and a load of Skiddle merchandise. All in all, it will end up as a kind of “promotion apprenticeship” that you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else.

Even though the competition is not just open to student promoters, Jimmy says it would be perfect for them, as it is “based round the academic year,” and due to the flexible nature of the prize. Also, though the competition is being rolled out nationwide, Manchester residents have a good chance, due to it being a Skiddle “ticket stronghold,” and having such a vibrant music scene. So, a student from Manchester probably has a damn good chance!

As well as the competition and the internships they already offer, they are also looking into other ways of investing in young people “that show promise.”

Live: Ella Eyre

7th October 2014

The Ritz

8/10

After supporting Rudimental on tour last year and playing extensively at festivals over summer, Ella Eyre continues to gain momentum with each show she plays; evidently her first solo tour proves she is not to be taken lightly.

Exploding onto stage, Ella wastes no time in showing the audience her talent and launching into ‘Don’t Follow Me’. Packed with attitude and confidence she struts around completely in her element, exhibiting high energy and carrying a high intensity from the start.

Her notable voice is gravelly and textured; she has a truly distinct tone that sets her apart from her counterparts. Her vocals are even better live than on record, her presence is immovable and her feisty swagger is admirable, exuding an almost gladiatorial stance on stage.

The content of her upcoming LP and much of her previous work is evidently based on a breakup and, although some of her material was penned when she was younger, writing her recent single ‘Comeback’ when she was 16, it becomes somewhat narrow in terms of songwriting. There is a rationale of revenge and anger channelled throughout the performance, which becomes tiresome by the end, but there is a level of empathy amongst the crowd judging by the reception her songs receive.

Ella breaks off her high-energy performance for a weird, souled-out piano version of Jermaine Stewart’s one hit wonder ‘We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off’, but the crowd lap it up in admiration. She shows a lot of honesty in the slower songs and superbly exercises her vocal capabilities. The contrasting upbeat material is well-received and her set includes Sigma’s chart-topping ‘Changing’, which she co-wrote. Her biggest hit to date, Rudimental’s ‘Waiting All Night,’ raises the roof and is the undoubted highlight of the evening, it’s her most recognisable track and the entire crowd are singing by the end of the gig.

There’s no doubt she is a fantastic performer and a spectacular singer; music fans with any vague interest in popular music will admire her energy and voice and, although the content isn’t very diverse, heartbreak sells. I wouldn’t be surprised if she finds herself at the top of the charts anytime soon.

Gay men need feminism

We’ve all heard them: “Stop crying like a girl,” “don’t be such a pansy,” “he talks like a little girl.” Phrases meant to question the masculinity of a young man in order to offend like this work in two ways.

Importantly, they make the presumptions that women are inferior beings and displaying signs of femininity, as a superior male is a repugnant transgression of the patriarchy. The reinforcement of patriarchal attitudes is harmful as much to women as it is to the gay, or even straight yet effeminate, man.

These insults shouldn’t be insults, it’s simple. Hopefully, as feminism advances their power to sting will be lessened and feminism is good for gay men because of this. If a camp gay man displays stereotypically effeminate tendencies, then he shouldn’t be made to feel like any less of a man for not living up to his manhood, as it were.

The worst thing about using femininity in men as an insult is that frequently it is young women who use it. Girls in schools using “you’re such a girl,” as an insult is heartbreaking because they don’t see how they are demoting themselves to a point of lesser being than a man.

It doesn’t just stop at the use of femininity as a contra-standard to being a man for gay men, but society tries to force gender roles upon us too. The all-pervasive female and male roles are so ingrained in our society that gay couples frequently have to listen to: “So, which one of you is the man and which one of you is the woman?”

Nine times out of ten it’s not even meant facetiously, it’s a completely serious question. The paradigm of gender roles penetrates our mindsets so deeply that we simply can’t fathom the idea that neither is either: “Well, we’re both men, that’s kind of the point.”

Our society’s bifocal view of the world doesn’t allow us to see behaviour, sexuality, and gender as fluid. You are either a masculine man or a feminine woman; there are no grey areas.

Masculinity as a concept is indeed so rigid and so important to young men that any doubt about its extensiveness in a man is damaging. This even stretches so far as to damage friendships between young gay teenagers and young straight ones: “Why are you friends with him? He’s gay. You’re not gay are you?”

Feminism is good for gay men because it is breaking down the false concept of strict masculinity and femininity. Gay men and effeminate men no longer need to be seen as lesser men, and nor should they be labelled effeminate in a demeaning way. It’s damaging to everyone; it presumes women are inferior, it makes gay and effeminate men feel insecure, and it even shakes the fragile ego of the young straight male to the core to have his masculinity questioned—even if it’s a simple friendship.

Club: Tribal Sessions presents Apollonia

4th October

Sankeys

In the last 14 years, Tribal Sessions has established itself as one of Manchester’s go-to underground house nights. The 14th birthday weekender did not disappoint. Having not been to Sankeys since our first year, my housemates and I were pretty excited as the days of the week counted down until Saturday night. Once inside the club, the hype amongst the crowd in the minutes before Apollonia were due to take to the decks was evident. I spoke to one guy who had come up from London to see their set as well as to a bunch of Chinese guys who lamented the fact that Beijing doesn’t have such a booming house scene.

The Parisian house trio, made up of Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom, and Shonky, are known affectionately by fans and critics as ‘the three musketeers’. They dropped a smooth set which didn’t fail to get the whole of Sankeys pumping. Drawing heavily on the work of Prince, their mission statement is, in effect, to blend black and white musical influences to produce house music which is funky and drum-heavy. The group have recently claimed in an interview that their sound and mixing improves when all three are together—greater than the sum of the individual parts they play. Having never heard any of their solo sets live, I can’t confirm or deny this. But it certainly can be said that the three of them together had a commanding presence up on stage.  The Sankeys basement also really lent itself to Apollonia’s sound, whilst also maintaining a relatively intimate feel.

Following their set in Manchester, the trio are currently on the road in North America. In the last two weeks, they have performed in New York, Montreal, Las Vegas, and Washington D.C.

Tribal Sessions has two more shows this month: Friday 24th and then a Halloween special on the 31st, which will see all the usual suspects play, such as Darius Syrossian.

Meat Free Mondays

As you are reading this you might be tucking into a yummy, juicy bacon buttie and being meat free may be a long way from your mind. However, this clever initiative is starting to catch on. Meat Free Monday is a campaign started and funded by Paul McCartney along with his daughter Stella. Together, they promote giving up eating meat for the whole of Monday (would you believe?!) for a wide range of reasons. Because when you really start to think about it, eating meat has a bigger impact than just thinking of the cute little animals.

As a Geography student, a large proportion of the things we learn is linked to how the world is changing, more often than not, for the worse. Yes, this is along with our busy colouring-in schedule. For example, greenhouse gas emissions are globally showing a constant rate of increase. What does this have to do with meat, I hear you cry? A UN study in 2006 showed that the livestock industry was responsible for an astonishing 18 per cent of man’s global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to this factor you have the impact of deforestation for cattle ranches, cattle’s extraordinary methane emissions and the extra food needed to feed livestock. This is all without even looking at the issue of animal rights and welfare.

Meat Free Monday may appeal to you from a financial point of view as a cash-strapped student. The average UK family spends £13.10 on meat and fish and just £6.70 on fresh fruit and veg every week. Imagine how much extra dosh you would have if you spent a bit more on veg or those tasty lentils rather than meat. For really cheap veg, head down to the Curry Mile’s superstore for an expansive and cheap selection.

The Students’ Union now has special promotions in place on Meat Free Mondays—half price on certain meat free dishes, including the veggie pizza which is pretty good if you are ever peckish.
Not all vegetarians choose to go meat-free for animal rights or environmental issues; health is also an important factor. We all know vegetarians have a healthy reputation, but does this claim actually stack up? Eating meat less than three times a week prevents 31000 deaths from heart disease every year in the UK. If everyone was able to eat meat less than three times a week, it is estimated that the NHS would save over £1.2 billion a year. Although Meat Free Monday is only one day a week, everyone has to start somewhere!

McCartney’s meat-free mission is being supported by several high-profile celebrities and chefs, including Yotam Ottolenghi. My twist on his Shakshuka recipe is available here. The Meat Free Monday website also has lots of great recipes and more information. So why not give Meat Free Mondays a go and feel totally self-satisfied all Monday long!

Sophia Al-Maria’s ‘Virgin with a Memory’

Virgin with a Memory is a multimedia exhibition documenting the production of, and inspiration behind, Sophia Al-Maria’s unfinished rape revenge film Beretta. What Al-Maria compiles from the film, using video installations, film posters, and even her personally annotated scripts, makes for a compelling and multifaceted insight into what could have been. It also draws comparison between Al-Maria’s own frustrations at attempting to get the film off the ground and her anger at the harassment of women in Egypt—where the film is set—alongside a thought-provoking critique of the depiction of women in the media on a wider scale.

Al-Maria’s exhibition starts and ends with confronting the issue of the male gaze; upon entering, you are met with Rape Gaze and Torture Trip, two pieces in which Al-Maria draws attention to the deeply unsettling fetishisation of violence towards women in Egyptian film posters of the 1960s and 1980s. Al-Maria continues upon this theme of making the male voyeuristic experience of women in culture an unsettling one by naming a compilation of Arabic music videos Your Sister. She thereby constructs the sexual exploitation of females in the media and makes it appear sordid and incestuous, something that, arguably, we are almost numb to in the modern age due to the recurrent depiction of female sexuality through a male lens in the music industry. For me the most fascinating part of the exhibition was The Watchers No. 1 – 6, a piece showing visually distorted images of men of different ages with staring eyes that seem to follow you around the room. This powerfully illustrates just how intimidating and frightening being the object of predatory masculine sexual desire can be.

As well as providing a powerful critical evaluation of the phenomenon of the male gaze, however, Virgin with a Memory acts as Al-Maria’s celebration of being an artist finally able to salvage something meaningful from Beretta and those tumultuous three years, plagued with financial and legal issues troubling the film’s pre-production. One piece in the exhibition is simply a box of published copies of the novelisation of the script that retains Al-Maria’s unabridged vision of the film. This seems to represent Al-Maria revelling in being able to have her voice heard without the interference of producers, legal teams and other administrative, stifling influences, making the fact that the exhibition has been allowed to take place an intrinsic part of the exhibition itself.

Al-Maria’s ability to bring together a stylistically diverse exhibition, with her all-encompassing use of lighting, sound, and especially video pieces, delivers a coherent and impressive work—needless to say it is an impressive feat in itself. The combination of content that explores, on the one hand, one woman’s struggle to get her artistic vision realised, coupled with the reactionary ‘call to arms’ against the way in which women are exploited and depicted by men, is a truly unique and inspired one that you are unlikely to come across elsewhere. This makes Virgin with a Memory a truly distinctive and stimulating piece that is well worth taking the time to immerse yourself in.

Virgin with a Memory is on display at Manchester Cornerhouse until 2nd November.

Progressive? Try regressive on for size.

Recent revelations of a culture celebrating misogyny, that had pierced the heart of the now disbanded rugby club of the London School of Economics, have shone a homing beacon onto the issue of the modern man and his relation to femininity. We, as a generation, are supposedly free thinkers, liberal in our outlook; the modern man is our label. This, it seems, is a masquerade of morality masking a widely known, but more easily ignored, truth.

One need only glance over to social media for the worst culprits. Facebook, in giving rise to groups such as the LAD Bible, has given prominence to a voice that serves to perpetuate views that, despite their high-tech platform, belong in a museum. These views have been refined by spin-offs such as UniLad, appealing to a more specific audience while promoting the same archaic outlook. Clearly we in further education demand a more sophisticated form of misogynistic thoughtlessness.

The widespread support for the suspect but apparently hilarious ideology of the LAD Bible and similar media outlets is frankly frightening. The LAD Bible, it would appear, promotes views universally known to be morally abhorrent, yet its support is unyielding.

The treatment of femininity in celebrity culture likewise borders on medieval. Dapper Laughs (a name I’m glad to say I didn’t know), for example, delivers completely inexcusable messages regarding the treatment of women, all under the thin veil of comedy.

Not only does the comic openly insult the notion of equal rights through his backwards outlook, he does so with such satisfaction that his audience must surely consider him ironic. If so, then a national campaign warning as to the danger of misunderstood irony should be a key political policy.

For many followers of figures such as the LAD Bible and Dapper Laughs (who has now been given a television platform too—social decay in action), the line for when the joke stops is heavily blurred. Like the blurred lines of aptly named Robin Thicke’s patriarchal anthem, the point at which the laughing stops has sunk so deep into the mire its invisible.

This is where the London School of Economics’ esteemed sportsmen reappear, flourishing their now shit-stained colours. While I am not for one second suggesting that these men are misogynistic or backwards, they simply failed to identify where the punchline ended. Here in lies the problem.

We are so numb to misogynistic rhetoric, as used to it as to a lazy form of comic relief, that we’ve in some cases forgotten that it’s a joke. If the devil’s greatest trick was convincing the world he didn’t exist, the danger of socially accepted sexism is in it hiding where it is visible. The more visible it is, the more normal it appears.

Like the iconography of post-abolition America, playfully villainizing the black community, we continue, through seemingly harmless means, to devastate gender relations.

The image of the modern man, and his belief in gender equality, is chiselled away both in his own psyche and in the eyes of his female counterpart. In the perception of feminists, the need to fight for equal rights is perpetuated by opiating culture with misogyny. Alongside this, the idea of masculinity is corrupted, poisoned beyond all recognition, by a social pressure cultivated by a covert desensitisation to anti-feminism.

Lad culture reigns, a culture of racking up sexual conquests and drunkenly approaching women in clubs, a culture almost nobody bought into but a culture men are dictated to. The harmless fun of the LAD Bible, streamed directly into the brains of young men via their laptops, suddenly is less benign when, as in the case at LSE, it spirals out of control.

Masculinity, then, has been twisted not by men themselves, but by a small percentage who have rebranded what a man is and sold it back under the guise of fun in the form of sexist iPhone cases and T-shirts. The myth of the modern man is by no means a detrimental flaw in the character of mankind, one that womankind should aggressively segregate themselves from. No, what is needed is a reclaiming of masculinity as whatever men want it to be.

Far from promoting conflict between the sexes, we should be aiming to integrate society into being totally androgynous, making gender irrelevant rather than something to be fought over. While women did fight, and die, for the right for equality, we have reached a point where such militant actions aren’t the way forward and a more nuanced approach is needed.

What is abundantly clear, however, is that the modern man is, at the moment, a myth that we should strive to make a reality. Far from accepting the position of masculinity in relation to femininity we should all be looking to appropriate this into one movement of humanity. In doing so, we cast not only oppression of women aside but also start to dissolve the stained version of masculinity which has appropriated our gender.

Dying for democracy

As thousands take to the streets in Hong Kong, campaigning for their say in a twisted system of democracy, one can’t help but feel similar levels of action would be impossible in Britain. In Hong Kong the outrage and dissatisfaction is palpable, exploding in scenes dominating the world media.

Political engagement in Hong Kong, it would appear, is alive and well. However, with just 44 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds turning out to vote in the 2010 general election, the same cannot be said of Britain. Surely we should be learning from their determination to achieve democracy to engage with, rather than ignore, our own politics.

Joshua Wong, the seventeen-year-old public face of the Hong Kong student occupation, is a level-headed figure. His public persona is calm, he does not disrupt or incite violent, his education shows. His lawyer, called in to represent him following anti-democratic attempts to silence him, described him as “measured beyond his years.”

The campaign in Hong Kong is focussed on achieving full democracy, the choice to elect their own Chief Executive, the head of the Hong Kong government, rather than be stuck with a government crony. The campaign has called for the current leader, Leung Chun-Ying to step down. Elected with support from just 689 voters from the electoral of just 1200, he has been heavily rebuked for prioritising China over Hong Kong in an attempt to appease his support base of oligarchs and pro-Beijing tycoons.

When, in Hong Kong, the right to simply vote is a contentious issue, the huge political power each and every one of us possesses in comparison is highlighted. While our system may be flawed, our right to democratic representation is leaps and bounds ahead of such a Hong Kong’s institution of government.

As I previously mentioned, the turnout for 18 to 24 year olds in Britain was just 44 per cent in the 2010 general election. Democracy then is wasted on a depressing 56 per cent of legally voting young people. If they felt shafted by the system then they have themselves to blame. They shafted themselves through a complete lack of engagement. Voting isn’t joining the system. Voting is how to change the system and is what the young Hong Kong people are fighting for.

In Hong Kong it is taking a young politically engaged activist to educate the masses. He is preaching how “the Hong Kong people should pay more attention to politics,” and that ordinary life is intimately and indelibly linked to the political process. Young people in Hong Kong know that if they hate the influx new Chinese money, amongst other things, then they should stand alongside the thousands of others who agree in protesting for a vote and being heard rather than remaining passive.

Not since the mining strikes of the 1980s have the British public shown such a level of political engagement. Like the student-led protests in Hong Kong, the miners strikes, whether you agree with them or not, epitomised people unifying with a collective objective. The UK has not seen kind of mass-scale activism driving for a real objective for decades—the Hong Kong movement has just this impetus. Real political drive centred in the engagement of the people.

Young Britain on the whole lacks political engagement. The truth is that for British politicians there is no conflict because the youth don’t offer any. There is a clear difference between choosing to rebuke the system whilst showing complete apathy and choosing to offer genuine, considered threat to the establishment.

In Hong Kong, to vote in a democratic system isn’t an option. Any candidate will serve as a perpetuation of power for the same establishment that has misled its population. In Britain, you have to walk less that ten minutes to a primary school and tick a box.

If you want political conflict in the name of change, then cause some, political conflict matters in ways indifference can never fathom. Get up and have your voice heard. Tick the box, whichever box you tick, but don’t spoil the ballot or waste a right that people in Hong Kong are facing the batons for.

When others have to cause conflict simply to have the right to be heard, it hammers home that to vote in a democracy is a duty over a choice.

The system will roll on regardless of whether you decide to engage with it or not, you will simply not be a part of if you don’t. You may as well make it difficult for those in power if you disagree with the system. Cause a conflict. Disregard the negative connotations and start something amazing.

NUS refuse to condemn ISIS on grounds of “Islamophobia”

The National Union of Students (NUS), who in the past have condemned UKIP and Robin Thicke and voted to boycott Israel (all considered highly controversial moves), will not condemn Islamic State (IS), as they consider it would be “Islamophobic” to do so.

The rejected motion, ‘Iraqi Solidarity’, proposed to “campaign in solidarity with the Iraqi people and in particular support the hard-pressed students’, workers’ and women’s organisations [fighting] against all the competing nationalist and religious-right forces.”

They also planned to encourage students to boycott anyone found to be funding IS or supplying them with goods, while in turn making contact with Iraqi and Kurdish organisations in order to form solidarity and support.

According to a recent report from the United Nations Human Rights Council, IS “routinely kills Muslims and non-Muslims alike even when they have not taken up arms against ISIS. Such killings constitute violations of Islamic law and morality as well as war crimes.”

In the proposal put forward to the NEC it was also outlined “that rape and other forms of sexual violence are being used as weapons against women in IS-occupied areas, while minorities are being ethnically cleansed.”

In the face of all of this, however, the NUS still refuse to condemn this terror group and, consequently, to support the Kurdish and Iraqi forces fighting against it. At NUS Scotland, the motion was passed unanimously.

This is all comes very soon after the NEC decided to pass a motion to boycott Israel, which many argued at the time could create the alienation of Israeli students.

Despite this controversial move, their reasoning for not condemning IS was that, as a spokesperson for the NUS outlined in a statement, “some committee members felt that the wording of the motion being presented would unfairly demonise all Muslims rather than solely the group of people it set out to rightfully condemn.”

The NUS, whilst arguing the motion was “Islamophobic”, also opposed the proposal on the grounds of it being pro-American military intervention.

Malia Bouattia, the NUS Black Students’ Officer who opposed the proposal, wrote in a Facebook post last week that “we stand in complete solidarity with the Kurdish people against the recent attacks by ISIS and join many others in condemnation of their brutal actions. In doing so we recognise that condemnation of ISIS appears to have become a justification for war and blatant Islamaphobia. This rhetoric exacerbates the issue at hand and in essence is a further attack on those we aim to defend.”

She added: “A motion will be taken to the next NUS National Executive which truly reflects the situation. This motion will pose a condemnation of the politics and methods of ISIS as well as unequivocal support for the Kurdish people. It will in no way pander to Western imperialistic intervention or the demonisation of Muslim peoples.”

Aaron Kiely, a member of the NEC, wrote for Stop the War Coalitions’ website arguing that “there has been a smear campaign in the media accusing the anti-war movement of supporting the barbaric terrorist group ISIS.”

Kiely argued his anti-war stance by highlighting that “the current US bombing campaign of Iraq and Syria will not defeat ISIS. The way to defeat ISIS is not by using the methods which led to its creation.”

However in the motion put forward, while it outlines the proposal to condemn IS, it proposes to do so “while expressing no confidence or trust in the US military action.”

Clifford Fleming, last year’s Campaign and Citizenship officer at Manchester Students’ Union, and now a member of the NEC, seconded the ‘Iraqi solidarity’ motion.

In a statement to The Mancunion he said, “The NEC voted the motion down due to an overall feeling that the motion currently had pro-intervention rhetoric—which nobody wanted.

“I absolutely support Malia’s concerns, and she agreed to bring something back to the next meeting. I find it completely inappropriate and concerning how since this has happened it has been claimed that identity politics has a “stranglehold” on the NEC.

“Of course those who are voted to represent groups of students should voice their concerns—it is their duty. Malia has since received multiple threats and abuse, including from the fascist EDL, which goes to show her concerns were absolutely valid.”

However Roza Salih, co-writer of the motion and NUS Scotland’s International Students’ Officer, speaking to Solidarity, said, “the people who opposed the motion are now saying they support the Kurds, which is good, but actions speak louder than words. It seems that they are more focussed on opposing intervention than making solidarity.”

Manchester set to benefit from €24m ‘smart green growth’ fund

Manchester is one of three cities set to receive a share of a €24 million fund to demonstrate pioneering green technologies.

Together with Stavanger in Norway and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, the city will form a consortium called Triangulum, which will see designated urban districts transformed into smart quarters. The funding is part of a European Commission scheme to demonstrate ‘smart green growth’ by reducing carbon emissions while simultaneously boosting the economy.

In Manchester, the focus will be on The Corridor, a stretch of Oxford Road close to the universities. The site currently covers 243 hectares and is being developed into a knowledge-led business location.

This funding will enable investment in various technologies, ranging from renewable energy to intelligent energy management using IT data. It will also support the increased use of electric vehicles.

Manchester City Council will be leading the project, working alongside the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. Some Manchester-based businesses will also be involved, including energy giant Siemens and digital technology company Clicks and Links.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said, “cities use a large proportion of the world’s resources and need to be in the forefront of environmental improvements.

“New technologies are opening up opportunities all the time and Corridor Manchester has the right conditions to show how smart city districts can help make a positive difference.”

The Vice Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University and chair of the Corridor Board, Professor John Brooks, said, “this funding will help us realise the potential of the Corridor.

“It is large enough to demonstrate new approaches to smart cities at scale and suitably well-connected to attract international attention. The strong track record of partnership working in this city will enable to deliver multiple projects in an integrated way.”

Juergen Maier, CEO of Siemens UK, said, “Siemens is absolutely delighted that with this funding Manchester can push ahead with this project.

“The Corridor has all the right assets for establishing an international smart city district, demonstrating how new technologies can drive growth whilst at the same time reducing carbon emissions. We hope to be able to help the project achieve these objectives.”

The Corridor currently employs 58000 people, roughly 12 per cent of the city’s workforce. It is home to pharmaceutical companies, educational industries and financial service organisations.

NHS workers strike over pay

For the first time in 32 years, NHS employees took industrial action in a dispute over pay. The four-hour walkout occurred on Monday 13th October from 7am until 11am.

Over 400000 health service staff took action, including midwives, nurses and ambulance crew. However figures have emerged that only 9.5 per cent of Unison, UK’s largest healthcare union, voted in favour of strike action—fewer than one in 10.

The strike, involving seven trade unions, comes after a recent recommendation to award NHS staff with a one per cent pay rise was rejected by the government. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said if the suggested pay rise was granted, more than 14000 nurses would be laid off by hospitals as a result.

Strikers voiced frustration that NHS personnel were likely to become the only group of staff in England not to receive what their pay review body recommended whilst MPs were poised to receive an 11 per cent rise.

Cathy Warwick chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives stated: “At a time when MPs are set for a 10 per cent pay rise, we’re told that midwives don’t deserve even a below-inflation one per cent rise. And politicians wonder why the public does not afford them more respect. It feels to a great many people, including midwives, that there is one rule for them and another rule for everybody else.”

During the walkout, A&E units remained open whilst other non-emergency appointments were cancelled. However, hospital staff were seen leaving the picket lines to deal with patients. While ambulance services were sent to emergency situations, those with less serious illness or injury were given “alternative treatment pathways.”

Patients with broken bones and breathing difficulties were told to visit their GP or make their own way to hospital. Military drivers, police, and healthcare professionals from elsewhere in the NHS helped to minimise disruption during the walkout.

Disruption to services will continue as the seven unions involved in the strike are joined by 2600 senior hospital doctors to start work-to-rule action. This is expected to involve staff refusing to do more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, and precisely follow safety or other regulations in order to cause a slowdown.

Unless the government rethinks its decision to deny the workforce a one per cent pay rise, more industrial action could take place next month. This could involve a full-day walkout.

Rachael Maskell, head of health at the union Unite, said, “we are already planning and will definitely be taking further industrial action if the government doesn’t put more money on the table and doesn’t talk to us.”

Live: Tall Ships

Soup Kitchen
3/10

Soup Kitchen is arguably one of Manchester’s best small band venues. The basement room is intimate, authentically unfurnished and an ideal small capacity for musical clarity. However, this intimacy cast an uncomfortable spotlight on a bland and careless performance by Tall Ships.

Tall Ships attempt to occupy a void in the region of guitar music somewhere between Tokyo Police Club and Bastille, and what niche they carve into an already crowded musical landscape is hard to discern.

A 2012 press release, bizarrely used for the event description at Soup Kitchen describes their sound as “elements of math rock and angular pop” and compares the outfit to “the likes of Battles and Minus The Bear but also the likes of Sigur Rós and Biffy Clyro.” There was nothing heard to warrant these comparisons at Soup Kitchen, just a big messy mess of instruments drowning out each others sounds.

This is the biggest of Tall Ships’ problems, the surplus of band members makes for a sound that lacks coherence and direction, especially in a compact venue. The songs deteriorated into a wall of sound, or maybe chunks of a wall that had been smashed with a hammer and left scattered in a pile on the floor.

Lead singer Ric Phethean’s distinctive Cornish drawl is one redeeming feature of the performance, but for the most part, this is either drowned out or wasted on shoddy lyrics. Tall Ships opened with ‘Ode to Ancestors’ which was an unexpected treat, with Phetean’s vocals taking the limelight. However they quickly cave in to the urge to cram in the riffs, and the show was downhill from there. The tune of ‘Phosphorescence’ in unintelligible and ‘Books’ only has a few, strange lyrics: “time is precious, and time won’t forget us,” repeated three times. Closing on ‘Vessels’ was a highlight, but by then, the performance was unsalvageable.

Review: Manchester Liquor Market

As readers may be aware, mid-September welcomes Manchester’s annual food festival. Dave at The Drinks Enthusiast decided, in conjunction with this fortnight of culinary heaven, to exhibit some of the finest alcoholic accompaniments around. Bar Elixir was the chosen venue for the event, a cool and intriguing establishment on Deansgate which is worth a visit on any occasion.

We arrived just after 1pm and were directed to the basement, where small crowds of customers stood at various tables, sampling spirits and talking to their vendors. We approached the nearest table, where a smiling woman from Penderyn kicked off our alcoholic adventure with two different Welsh whiskies, vodka, my trusty friend Mr. Gin, and a gorgeous cream liqueur completely non-reminiscent of Baileys.

Following more gin and vodka interspersed with rum, we moved onto an fascinating table where, after tasting some Calvados and claiming a rather fetching promotional hat, the vendor turned our attention to something we had never seen before: ‘Polugar’—familiarly termed ‘bread wine’—was rubbed into our hands to produce the unmistakable scent of freshly baked bread. The same doughy notes were apparent in the drinking, although sadly it smelled nicer than it tasted. We were then offered some incredible ‘Ron Prohibido’; a barrel left in a burnt down distillery was found five years after conventional distillation, producing a darkness of colour and tone unique for a non-spiced rum.

Continuing our alcoholic education, we were served absinthe with iced water from cut-glass chalices. As I informed the stockist of my lifelong aversion to aniseed, she cracked out a bottle of chocolate absinthe. At this point my lucidity had very much started slipping, so all I can say on the subject is that if you ever get the opportunity to taste, buy, or bathe in this stuff, then do not miss out.

By this point my words had started to slur and I thought I was the source of all knowledge. We sipped on three dreamy apéritif wines despite being far past an appropriate apéritif stage. We discussed the shameful drinking habits of the youth of today whilst knocking back crystal-clear rum. I tried to verify my improvised knowledge of Cognac by bringing out my horrific nasal French accent and namedropping anything vaguely Francophone I could remember.

We were enjoying ourselves so much that we decided to sit down. A couple of bowls of complimentary bar snacks later, and I was continuing to wax lyrical about philosophy and fine drinking. We attempted a round two, but it proved much less successful (and frankly, I don’t remember much).

Despite this, I learnt something interesting about American whisky distillation. I learnt that I still like tequila. We drank something very cherry flavoured and I got distracted by a baby (I don’t think it was drinking). Sibling gin—the final table—showed us the snazzy machine they use to distil their spirit and with that we were defeated.

Just about managing to remain upright, I returned to the first table to double check my opinion on that cream liqueur. Confidence restored, we hobbled up the stairs and out into the open. It had just turned 5:30pm, giving us just enough time to make a couple of expensive mistakes in a high-end footwear shop.

Elixir Tonics & Treats,
123 Deansgate,
Manchester,
M3 2BY.

Visit http://drinksenthusiast.com/ for more information and events.

Female Student Defence at the university

From an early age, young females are constantly reminded of the dangers that they may face in their lifetime. This has caused girls to regularly acknowledge their own supposed vulnerability and therefore, they will take the appropriate precautions to prevent becoming a victim of an attack.

Women are forever being reminded to never walk home alone, not to get too drunk, try to go home with a friend, never leave a drink unattended, and so on. Although this advice is well intended, it has resulted in many young females merely avoiding situations in which they could meet potential danger.

However women are rarely informed about how they should react if they are confronted with a dangerous situation.

The Huffington Post quoted that roughly 20 per cent of women will be sexually assaulted throughout their time at university; however I’m sure if you ask the majority of female university students they would not know how to react in a sexual assault situation.

I’m sure that many girls share the same mentality as I do and think “it will never happen to me,” and continue to avoid certain areas or doing certain things as opposed to actually learning to defend themselves.

At this year’s Welcome Fair, a stall advertising a free women’s self-defence class caught my eye and caused me to question my own abilities at being able to defend myself and then it dawned on me that I would probably be absolutely useless. The following week I went along to one of the classes and what took place in that hour and a half truly did impress me.

The vast amount of girls who had opted to learn self-defence was astounding, however what really amazed me was the people who ran the class.

Not only had they given up their free time for no payment to ensure that girls felt more confident but they also seemed to genuinely care about the girls having effective defence skills and they even showed how to project those skills to a real life situation.

I am proud to be a student of a university that is actually taking proactive measures to ensure their students remain safe and a huge thank you to those individuals of Smart Martial Arts who have already made me feel more confident in my ability to defend myself.

Just six minutes a day can keep stress levels at bay

A new campaign called ‘Just Six Minutes’ has launched in partnership with Manchester Libraries encouraging people to read more. The campaign has been inspired by World Mental Health Day which was held on Friday 10th October, although the campaign itself will continue throughout the semester until January 26th next year.

A team of researchers at Mindlab International in Sussex, a company which focuses on consumer shopping decisions, have discovered that as little as six minutes of reading a day can notably reduce your stress levels.

The study, led by Dr. David Lewis, found that reading a good book for just several minutes after a long day relaxes people more than listening to soothing music. The ‘Time to Read’ organization is backing this campaign to get more people reading.

Along with the campaign, ‘Books on Prescription’ are available at all Manchester City libraries. Nearly 12000 of these books, which highlight therapies for mild to moderate mental health issues, have been borrowed since June 2013.

Executive member for culture and leisure, Councillor Rosa Battle gave her approval to the campaign: “This research confirms what many booklovers already know—that reading really does have a vital role in helping to reduce stress and improve mental health.”

Despite the shared student loathing of the hours on PubMed and JSTOR needed to get course reading finished and essay deadlines met, the campaign is now providing students with one more reason to rekindle their joy for reading.

However, anticipating that students might struggle enough finding time to read, never mind looking for a good book, Dr. David Lewis, who is leading the study, has recommended using the website www.time-to-read.co.uk for those uncertain of where to begin.

The Art of Tipping: Please, Sir… Can I Have Some More?

We all recall that opening scene in Reservoir Dogs, don’t we? Steve Buscemi’s Mr. Pink takes a bold stance on his tipping rights—he just doesn’t “believe in it.” Bold for our cross-Atlantic brethren maybe, but here—not so much. The art of the tip remains taboo in the UK and the concept (right or wrong) evades many of us. Broaching the issue is going to require a little tact—this is a sensitive subject.

In the interests of full disclosure, I work in a restaurant; this matter weighs heavy on my heart for that reason. Tipping culture is now (slowly) percolating its way into British society. Distinct from our North American counterparts—where it is, for all intents and purposes, a mandatory obligation—I firmly believe that the art of the tip is, and must remain, an entirely discretionary common courtesy. Having said that, I would always urge that the presumption goes in favour of leaving one, as opposed to none. But no-one is holding a gun to your head.

It is for this reason that service industry workers should be out to impress. It would be a long night if we couldn’t take a joke, (attempt to) crack a joke and, fundamentally, smile. A large part of that restaurant you’re visiting is its atmosphere—you’d be surprised how quickly that would evaporate if everyone walked around with a face like a slapped arse! If we put ourselves out for you, it is satisfying to know that it has been noted and appreciated. A handshake, a bit of gratitude and a polite “thank you” doesn’t go amiss either.

There is an old American acronym which floats around: To Insure Prompt Service (“insure” being American English for “ensure.”) I question the appropriateness. Prompt service is the aim, good service is the game. “Prompt” is the minimum; it is, well, prompt—nothing more, nothing less. It is the least you would expect. But in this regard, too many people take the defensive and scrutinise servers to within an inch of their lives. Sometimes, things go wrong. Don’t use a simple lapse to lambaste your server and, more to the point, don’t write off a gratuity if everything else has gone swimmingly. Ten marks for effort may warrant something.

My point is this: a little goes a long way. Don’t hold your server to perfection, monitoring them and waiting for a mistake. Relax, enjoy the service and don’t overlook courtesy. Although I risk sounding like your mother, manners are so important—be nice to us and we’ll show some reciprocity. Despite what you may think, for the most part we enjoy engaging with customers and earning our tips; we enjoy serving those who don’t treat us like the shit they wiped off their shoe at the door. We’re doing a job, maybe as a stop-gap or maybe as a career, and one day your kids might be doing the same thing. Spare a thought—that’s what counts, and if you can… tip.

Independent Manchester Beer Convention

Have you ever been to the land of beer? Sadly this land is fictional, however the Independent Manchester Beer Convention (IMBC) acted as an embassy for four days last week. Taking place in the Victoria Baths over 9th-12th October, the IMBC brought together the most progressive breweries to show off their wares in the most impressive of surroundings.

Using the full space of the Victoria Baths, along with part of the car park outside, breweries clamoured to get your attention with their newest ranges. Any flavour of beer, you could probably find it. Want music and strobe lights? Just head to the Turkish Baths. Thought of a bizarre name for a beer? They’ve already got a stranger one. You could forget about traditional alcohol content as well, with certain stouts and ales reaching the lofty heights of 11 per cent. These weren’t beers you’d find in Sainsbury’s, these were boundary-breaking thirds, ready to blow the cobwebs from your tastebuds and dull your other senses.

My favourite beer, I hear you ask? Well that would have to be the “Earl Phantom”, a ‘lemon iced tea sour’ beer, served up by Beavertown Brewery. Upon first taste you were greeted by a jolt of lemon zest, immediately followed up by the soothing taste of a cup of Earl Grey, all finished off with your body desperate for more. Either that or “Rapture” from Magic Rock, an incredibly hoppy red beer, with an intensely colourful flavour, it was another which really made you stop and appreciate what you were tasting. With drinks being served in the traditional one-third of a pint glasses, it was easy to try a wide range before you were ready to collapse down onto the bean bags in front of the music stage.

You’d be forgiven for this event passing you by, with ticket prices of £10, along with no advertising at the student body, you had to be looking out for it. However, increasing ale awareness means that this will soon be an event on any beer drinkers calendar.

Student-aimed campaign ‘Don’t Drink and Drown’ launched in York

On Thursday 2nd October the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) UK launched their latest campaign, Don’t Drink and Drown, at the University of York. The campaign aims to caution drinkers, particularly students, to act responsibly near water after a night out, including avoiding walking near bodies of water on the way home.

RLSS UK is a drowning prevention charity which promotes messages and posters at universities, in pubs and on social media to encourage students to sign up to lifesaving classes with the organisation.
The launch of Don’t Drink and Drown followed an inquest on the 1st October into the death of York St. John University student Megan Roberts, who drowned after a night out earlier this year.

It is believed that in late January this year she become separated from friends, after having been drinking at the Students’ Union bar in York, and fell into the river Ouse near York’s Lendal Bridge.

Jackie Roberts, mother of Megan Roberts, has been working closely with RLSS UK on a number of projects over the past few months and spoke of the loss of her daughter at the Don’t Drink and Drown event.

“When you lose someone that you love so dearly, it is too big to accept, you can’t let it be true. The only thing you can do is keep their memory alive by enlarging yourself and channelling your grief into something good.”

However, the death of Megan Roberts is not the only incident of drowning whilst intoxicated within the UK’s student community. Earlier this year former, York University student Ben Clarkson also drowned after a night out, as did a Durham University student Sope Peters in late December in 2013.

Di Steer, the Acting Chief Executive of RLSS UK, said: “Drinking and/or taking drugs near or in water can be a dangerous and deadly cocktail. Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water.

“We would also ask people to, wherever possible, avoid routes home from a night out drinking that are alongside water, particularly in the darkness, and to always stick with and look out for your friends.”

RLSS UK has announced that from now on their job will be to promote drowning prevention messages and deliver water safety education nationally, including offering a range of awards and programmes that teach lifesaving skills to all ages.

Egypt – a revolution of the heart and the mind

There were songs, chants, flags, fireworks—our favorite street had suddenly transformed into a platform for celebration. Twenty-four hours earlier, it had been bombarded by cameras from international stations reporting on the “chaos” in Egypt. Two years earlier, the world watched as Egyptians chanted and fought for a new government. There was blood and there were tears, but at the same time there was a budding hope that the world could not see. In the words of the great Shakespeare: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.”

Having only been here for a month, I have already been asked dozens of times if it’s really dangerous in Egypt. Aside from the occasional exaggeration or bias of the media, one of its unavoidable fallouts is that it can never truly convey the underlying effects of huge political changes.

On January 25, 2011, the Arab Spring reached Egypt, leading the young, the old, the poor, and the rich to protest for the ousting of then-president, Hosni Mubarak. After he stepped down, members of different political parties nominated themselves; the winner being Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. In June 2013, Egyptians protested once again for secularism through the removal of the new ruler. Although a new president was elected a year later, these three years have not been easy. The world has done enough reporting and analyzing of the political situation in Egypt, and has not focused nearly enough on the emotional and social effects of the revolution.

It is easy to complain about Egypt; it’s hot, loud and can get pretty crowded. But then there were songs, a huge number of songs written about how beautiful Egypt is. However, when January 2011 rolled around everyone suddenly became a patriot. The radio and the TV screens sang about Egypt’s warm streets and its sparkling Nile, flags hung from windows and alongside buildings and danced to the gentle breeze. One really does need to lose something in order to know what it’s worth—and it took us hundreds of lives, thousands of injuries, and years of protests to realize how much Egypt is worth.

Suddenly, everyone became a politician. Prior to 2011, no one cared much about discussing politics. After realizing that our voices could actually be heard, however, avidly bickering about current events has become a vital aspect of every gathering. It doesn’t matter how much you know—everyone has something to say. Egypt’s history can easily be divided into revolutionary eras that start with a protest and end with a change in government or constitution. It is as if every once in a while we need to look back and realize that it is time for change. It was an awakening, a sudden realization that every voice mattered, and it made the biggest difference.

We united. In January of 2011 there were nights when the streets were too much for the police too handle, so the men of each neighborhood would gather at the gates of buildings or houses to guard their loved ones. People from different backgrounds and histories would gather every night in fear and bravery to do anything they could to help.

The two dominant religious groups, Muslims and Christians, the latter composing an obvious minority, had in the past faced conflicts or disagreements. However, these problems melted away as everyone united for a bigger purpose. Even today, we pride ourselves on the fact that Christians would gather around the Muslims to protect them as they prayed; or that the Muslims stood outside churches during services to avoid any unwelcomed trouble.

Today, Egypt is peacefully easing into new changes, which include a new president. Unlike neighboring countries, however, Egypt has not faced extremist groups like ISIS. Left delicate and healing from its wounds, Egypt would have been an easy target to terrorists or extremists. However, it is what the media doesn’t show, the emotions, the patriotism, and the hope, that has protected Egypt from foreign intervention. The media could report and write and photograph, but they would never be able to capture the fire that has grown inside every Egyptian’s heart. Egyptians are mad; they are madly filled with love and dreams for their nation, and it is this methodical madness that is protecting Egypt today.