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Month: October 2019

Review: Wild Life FM (SICK! Festival)

Written by scarlettspicer on . Posted in Theatre.

Wild Life FM is a vibrant collaboration between artist and writer, Kim Noble, and a company of Manchester-based young performers that come together to perform the sounds that surround us.

It is described as “not a play” and “not a gig,” but also “both of those things”.

In a mashup of live music, comedy and poetry, Wild Life FM’s 36th installment of their European tour portrays teenage life in a sensory experience that demands us to listen.

One of the most exciting things about the show is that you could have had your eyes closed throughout the entire thing and felt the same as if they were open. The show’s narrative drive was sound, concentrating on the idiosyncrasies of life through auditory experience: the sound of a leaking tap, the crunch of leaves, the sound of an opening condom.

Fittingly, the concept of the show was shaped around the format of a radio station: four microphones dispersed along the front of the stage and a long desk topped with radio equipment. The performers would float through the set and, when not performing, would sit behind the desk and watch the other performers.

The show had clear intentions from the start. Transcripts of interviews were projected on the back wall, depicting the responses to the questions about youth and what it is like to be a young adult. Many of the voices identified the vulnerability and struggle of being young today, especially with a focus on the limiting effects of technology and restrictions on freedom. The show attempts to dismantle adult preconceptions of sexuality and identity and does so with the weaving together of the performers’ individual moments.

The show puzzled this jigsaw of moments together and allowed each performer to take centre-stage and express themselves in whichever way they wanted.

Sam Whitehouse tenderly interviewed a member of the audience in response to his appearance: a painted face with red lips, elf ears and heeled boots. Whitehouse brought her to the stage and asked her if he could read her his diary, which was simultaneously harrowing and beautiful. He read snippets from the pages and drew a sensitive and moving picture of his journey through sexuality and self-expression as a teenager.

The female performers glowed in their individual moments, each performing their own songs with a balance of maturity and feisty energy. Martha Pryer’s husky tones and raw emotion moved us with her original song, Sober; eyes closed, basking in the golden lighting, we were transported to another planet.

Equally, Megan Blair’s performance filled the entire room with her powerful and unique tone, her lyrics beautifully resonating with each and every one of us; her dad stood with her onstage and, as he watched her, we saw both pride and a recognition that she is outgrowing him.

It would be wrong not to give enormous credit to the DJ of the show, Jakob Ampe. He wittily and skillfully tied together each moment with his persona of a radio DJ. He was charismatic and engaging, made even better by his honey-textured voice that surprised us in one of the show’s live songs.

The show’s soundtrack matched the honest and energetic tone of the show. The bass pumped through the audience, and it was impossible not to be enraptured by it. The soundbites from everyday life, combined with self-written songs and electronic music, brought us a raw portrayal of teenage life.

Wild Life FM is an honest exposition of what it is like to be young today. It is both heartfelt and entertaining while presenting an effective satire of how society sees the upcoming generation – their sound is wild, untamed and loud, and so we better start listening.

Review: Kunst Kabaret at Albert’s Schloss

Written by Anna Jin on . Posted in Theatre.

Kunst Kabaret, hosted at Albert’s Schloss restaurant and bar, is described as an “extreme and flamboyant live performance.”

The venue boasts different entertainment every night of the week, in a programme called “seven days of showtime”. The cabaret (or kabaret) is on every Tuesday, and this season (its third), each show takes its inspiration from a classic album. The first show of the season was inspired by Prince’s Purple Rain.

The performances began at 10 pm and consisted of three sets that lasted 25 minutes each. Between the sets, there were 35 minute breaks for the audience to relax, socialise, and generally enjoy their time at the bar.

Albert’s Schloss has a small stage for their daily performances. It is simple and situated close to the audience. A sign behind it reads “Truth. Beauty. Freedom. Love.”, in real Moulin Rouge spirit.

The kabaret is supported by a live band and background music controlled by a visible pair beside the stage.

The bar is showered in fluorescent lights and is situated below a giant flashing disco ball. There is also a DJ who stands in a booth situated at the top of the wall at the other side of the bar. During the performances, the lighting is directed at the stage, casting silhouettes of the performers’ bodies on the backdrop.

The kabaret’s first show of the night featured five talented artists, each with their own unique style. It was clear that they had worked hard on their performances by the ease with which they were executed. They had all prepared scandalous performances inspired by a song from Purple Rain.

The second act took the same formula, even closed by the same artist as the first act. The third act, however, featured live covers of songs taken from Purple Rain. In addition to the artists, an actor played the role of Prince, who did not perform but served as a symbol for the show.

The artists, including the Prince lookalike. Photo: The Mancunion.

The artists were very diverse. Jenna G hosted the show and also sung several songs from Purple Rain throughout the evening. Sade Moves performed a funky dancing number with hula hoops. Burlesque diva. Cherie Bebe, who The Mancunion interviewed last year, performed two smoldering numbers. She closed the second act with a striptease to the iconic titular song of Purple Rain, beautifully sung by Jenna G. Also featured were the splendidly outrageous lip-syncing drag queen, Banksie, and androgynous duo, Jogurt.

All of them gave the audience inappropriate performances that lived up to their titles of “extreme” and “flamboyant”. Things you can expect to see include, but are not limited to, partial nudity, suggested masturbation, BDSM, and twerking!

Photo: Cherie Bebe by Ivy Rose Studio.

It is clear that Kunst Kabaret has a significant fan base; there were so many people that many audience members had to stand up because there weren’t nearly enough seats for everyone. However, the best part of having a seat on the Bierkeller-esque benches is not to sit on them, but to stand up on them and dance Coyote Ugly-style to the classic bangers! LeAnn Rimes was right: “You can’t fight the moonlight!”

Audience-members dancing on the benches. Photo: The Mancunion.

Interaction with the audience is a very important element of the show. The audience is very supportive of the artists; they shout their encouragements loudly and stand on benches to cheer during performances.

Even though the performers have a stage, they rarely confine themselves to that boundary. They walk around the room, strut on the tables, and come in close contact with the spectators. At one point, an artist twerked in an audience member’s face, and, later on, a member of the audience spanked an artist! Debauchery would be an understatement.

Visit this beautiful venue and experience the thrill of Kunst Kabaret for yourself. The event occurs every Tuesday from 10 pm onward. The dress-code for the event is smart-casual, and you must be 18 years old or above to attend.

You will have many moments of confusion and not knowing what the hell is going on, but that’s all part of the fun! So, if you fancy a night of drinking and debauchery, come to Albert’s Schloss, where life is a cabaret, old chum; come to the (Kunst) Kabaret…

Photo: Authorised Press Shot

In Conversation with Sports Team

Written by Bella Fleming on . Posted in Music.

‘I can’t sing’, Alex Rice, Sports Team front man, admits amusingly over the phone.

But, almost paradoxically, this is one of the main reasons why Sports Team have done so well: they’ve “always tried to sound like other bands but [they] just can’t do it.” And that’s what makes them stand out.

The band have just arrived in “rainy” Cardiff for their first night opening for Two Door Cinema Club. Alex gushes about the “sit down catering service” provided on this tour, which included salmon for dinner and coconut water in the fridge. This sort of luxury on tour seems almost amusing to him, far from what they’re used to.

Having played at Jimmy’s in the past, the band seem eager to head back to Manchester. Their set at Neighbourhood Festival is an exclusive show and the band won’t be stopping here on their tour.

However, beyond their set, Alex seems most excited about being able to see his friends who are in other bands. He reflects on how post-festival season means it becomes harder to see each other, noting he is especially excited to see the boys from The Magic Gang.

The conversation moves on to the origins of Sports Club. The six-piece met whilst studying in Cambridge, confessing that “uni was an odd one, all our mates didn’t really want to hear guitar music and would rather go clubbing.”

Alex went on to explain how in the early days Sports Team geared their music around the University’s annual May Balls, a highlight of the academic year. With ticket prices exceeding £100, the band “couldn’t afford it, so would play gigs to get a ticket.” One year, the band were fortunate enough to share the stage at a May Ball with Nero, Pendulum, and Loyle Carner.

However, despite the university culture perhaps not embracing guitar music in the same way as the members of Sports Team have, Alex still believes that there is “enough musical heritage to the city,” and that despite the overshadowing from nearby London, the fact that bands such as Pink Floyd formed there will always be enough to keep the music scene vibrant.

In fact, Sports Team believe so much in the local Cambridge bands that they’ve signed UGLY, a four-piece from Cambridge, to their record label, Holms Front. “You’d be amazed how quick and easy it is,” Alex reveals, stating that running the label only really involved “arranging to press a vinyl and building relationships with distributors.”

Surprisingly, Alex also admits that running the label helps to get the band “out of the South London bubble of music.” The last record released on Holms Front was by Amsterdam-based collective Personal Trainer. “We were staying with our mate Pip Blom and it was Pip’s boyfriend who told us about the project,” Alex tells me, explaining how they found Personal Trainer’s wacky music “unbelievable”.

He also somewhat sheepishly admits how putting out music on a label run by the band results in more exposure for Sports Team. “The best thing about having a label is you rip off someone else’s talent” Alex boldly admits. He also explains that the band gets more press because of it, noting that the press describes these records as “Sports Team released”.

When asked about what advice he would give to a band just starting out, his answer was somewhat of a surprise: “don’t forget that you have to be entertaining.”

“Don’t try and be cool.” He goes on to explain, “remember that most people aren’t interested in seeing four blokes on stage playing guitars.”

Sports Team will play Neighbourhood Festival with a set at Gorilla at 8 pm. Although perhaps don’t expect too much of the band; they’re playing “at the O2 the night before, so [will] probably not be in a good way.”

Photo: Shervin Lainez

Album Review: Ode To Joy by Wilco

Written by Cameron Taylor on . Posted in Music.

On Ode To Joy, Wilco have recaptured the same lyrical anxiety which made their magnum opus, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, so precious. 

It would be crass to say that American attitudes under the Trump presidency are the same as those in the immediate years following 9/11. Yet it can be argued that there is the same sense of existential anxiety and uncertainty about the state America is in today as there was back then. These emotions are what lead Wilco to perfection with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Few lyricists have the knack Jeff Tweedy does when it comes to candidly framing the modern world and all its troubles, and thus for Wilco to really show their potential, they need a troubled world as their muse.

Their new album, Ode To Joy, starts slow; steady, military-style drums set the beat to which Tweedy croons over through the album’s first half. Instrumentally, it is much more stripped back than anything else the band have released, which invites the listener to sit and think alongside Tweedy as he meditates on the inevitabilities of life. Friedrich Schiller’s original 1785 poem from which the album borrows its title is described as being focused on the “triumph of universal brotherhood against war and desperation”, and these themes are the driving force behind the songwriting on Ode To Joy.

Tweedy’s tone throughout the first 4 songs is that of a defeated man, resigned to “stay in bed all day,” he admits on ‘One and a Half Stars’. Alongside the laborious drumming, the album seems at risk of beginning to drag just as upbeat single ‘Everyone Hides’ comes in. Bringing about a complete change in style, the poppy ballad is a welcome injection of enthusiasm, breathing life into the album even if the lyrics remain centred around the same prevalent themes of anxiety as before. Without ‘Everyone Hides’ the album would almost certainly drag, but it surfaces at the perfect moment to keep a grip on the listener.

Fans of early Wilco will be pleased with ‘We Were Lucky’, where Nels Cline is allowed to let rip with his electric guitar much in the same fashion of Wilco’s early hits such as ‘Misunderstood’. This track is one of the standouts of the album where it seems that the band were actively opposing any form of a stereotypical rock sound, with the rest of the music leaning towards folk or country.

Nonetheless, the band do a fantastic job of assuring the listener that Ode To Joy is classic Wilco, rather than some derivative attempt at jumping genres. Lead single, ‘Love Is Everywhere (Beware)’, is perhaps the best indicator of this. Cline’s piercing guitar arpeggio flows smoothly over acoustic strumming, and the album finds itself distanced from the negativity of its opening tracks as Tweedy implores for love to triumph over the issues plaguing our modern world. 

Between the themes of the album and the stripped-down nature of the music, Wilco is offering comfort to the troubled minds of the world we live in, taking the side of love over hate. As helpless as things may seem, we will always have the small joys in life. This overarching message is what deservedly puts Ode To Joy in the respectable company of their previous masterpieces, rather than leaving it floundering aimlessly like their previous two albums.

The music showcases the band at their absolute best: experimental while accessible. Meanwhile, Tweedy’s lyrics beautifully tap into the sociopolitical climate of a world that seems to have fallen off its axis.

8/10

Live Review: Black Country, New Road at YES

Written by jackblackwell on . Posted in Music.

Black Country, New Road recently took to the stage at YES to deliver an outstanding live performance.

This London based 6-piece group consists of Charlie (Drums), Georgia (Violin), Isaac (Guitars / Vocals), Lewis (Saxophone), May (Synthesiser) and Tyler (Bass). They span from post-punk to rock and even jazz with some Arabic rhythms from the saxophone in one of the tracks.

With all 6 of them crammed on the tiny stage of the Yes basement, they were able to command the room with a chaotic fast-paced angular sound while keeping note perfect proficiency. This performance was amazing, every song built and built in the way an orchestra builds a symphony. As the song progresses, the sound gets larger and the complexity thickens until it reaches a state of chaos forcing the audience to contort and head bop at the artist’s whim. At the peak of these big moments, everyone it seems is performing at full capacity, encompassed best by the saxophonist’s extravagant, squealing and squalling solos. I wasn’t expecting the Yes basement to turn into a mosh pit but the music required it: you couldn’t resist when they reached the summit of each song.

There is no focal point to this band. Instead, there are six equally talented musicians stretching the limits of their instruments. Their musical ability allowed them to, while building to these huge fanfare moments, improvise around that and extend parts to songs which made the performance feel more natural and individual. But equally, their musical ability meant that they were able to descend into a flood of abstract noise, somehow, in a very calculated and organised way.

From the huge energetic highs, it flowed into the subtle intense lows where there were points in transition between songs and abruptly after big moments that it was truly beautiful, creating a real sense of emotion. No wonder there was such emotion when you have a lead vocalist performing with such passion and almost pain at times while his eyes roll back into his head as he bellows out dismay at modern youth culture.

Isaac’s vocal performance smacks of slam poetry, elements of Ian Curtis and Mark E Smith. This style of vocal performance really works for their sound in that he can yell and scream in the big moments but in the more tender moments reduce to almost Slint-like vocals. One criticism of the performance would be that it was hard to hear some of his lyrics but this didn’t detract from the performance too much by virtue of the emotion of his delivery.

In the final song they played, they started playing with the time signatures, lead by Charlie the drummer. This and many other aspects of the performance can’t help but scream out influences of Slint, the eerie repetitive guitar riffs, excellent drumming, the spoken word vocals and the inevitable chaos that both bring. Although very similar to Slint, they are so different and so different from any band I have ever seen live; their performance was truly different and authentic.

Black Country, New Road is a part of a new wave of bands like Black Midi and Squid (all apart of Speedy Wunderground label) which almost transcend the genre in the sense that they blur the lines and cross over as freely as they move to the next song. I cannot recommend this band enough, and cannot wait for them to release an album.

9/10

Photo: Blake Crompton @ The Mancunion

Live Review: JOHN (TIMESTWO) at The Castle Hotel

Written by blakecrompton on . Posted in Music.

For any out of the loop, to Google the band JOHN, would be taxing. However, for those in the loop, you know to type (TIMES TWO) into the search engine.

That’s right! Two lads from Crystal Palace near London, both aptly named John. John Newton (vocals/drums) and Johnny Healey (Guitar) are capable of creating the sheer sonic brilliance witnessed in the intimate northern quarter pub, The Castle Hotel, on a Friday night.

As of recently, there has been a lot of amazing two pieces, and with the whole explosion of ‘Indie’ bands coming out of the woodwork, JOHN are worthy of amazing feats. Describing themselves as, “Four Arms, Four Legs, Two Heads, Wood, Metal, Plastic” could be a summary of a band taking the simple things in life and stretching them to such phenomenal extremes.

Their return to Manchester has been anticipated with the gig being sold out over a month ago. Additionally, the band’s second record Out Here on the Fringes was released the same day. So, after 12 hours of absorbing the new record, including the two singles gaining radio play with radio 1 rock show in the run-up to release day, listening to them live was nothing short of brilliant.

After a lovely and neatly wrapped opening from the drums and bass two-piece, Slap Rash, and a charming following from trio, Slow Hand Clap, we arrived at the main event.

There was no counting in or introductions as JOHN started their set, dropping straight into ‘Squad Vowels’. Johnny closed his eyes and gently nodded his head to the amazing riffs he created. Whereas John (Newton) with his entire being, pummelled into his drums, a massive grin forming as Johnny faces upwards.

The sheer visceral intensity of JOHN is already apparent, with John singing in rugged tones, firing on all cylinders at the drum set. Johnny standing by his faithful pedals, swaying back and forth with each purposeful strum, all of his being into all 6 strings.

As soon as the new material comes in with ‘Standard Hauntings’. A colossus of a riff, that has the room already bouncing with both shoulders of the front row of people moving, heads from side to side, fists pumping, sweat dripping- we’re only 5 minutes into the gig.

After a decent amount of water consumed in the minimal gaps between each song John dryly announces “Hi, Manchester. I’m John, He’s John (pointing to a tuning and smiling Johnny)- We’re JOHN” calmly. This kind of dry humour evident of a band, that clearly loves what they do, making really amazing music.

In recent interviews, they have often been described as “brutal,” “refreshing” and “perfectly produced,” sounding like descriptions to a new and exciting drink at the trending new tavern; However, JOHN carry a double-edged sword whereby their live videos, and to an extent their albums, don’t fully do them justice of what a truly fantastic live band they are.

They charge pragmatically through one song to the next, including the second single, ‘High Digger’. Johnny’s excellent use of an EHX “Chill Switch” throughout each song, but in no ways “Chill” as the name describes. Carefully holding back a torrent of sound, letting the clear yet piercing guitar lines have a moment, then a booming presence of the lower octaves through an adjoining amp combo, creating a full, rich and uncompromising sound that few can achieve. Further compounded by Johns primal, rhythmic fills, allowing him both the space to croon the microphone, and deliver carefully timed fills.

For a two-piece, a lot of people assume that it’s easy to be tight and effective. However, this is not the case, as if you mess up, it’s even more obvious with just two people. JOHN (other than an audience participation accident) didn’t put one single note or moment out of place, from ‘Squad Vowels’ through to ‘Solid State’. Even with a failing snare drum, sincere and memorable to the end.

JOHN will hopefully be coming back soon to Manchester, for even more ‘Brutal Refreshing Power’.

Photo: Laura Davies @ The Macunion

Live review: Metropolis and WAH Birthday at Mayfield Depot

Written by lauradavies on . Posted in Music.

The culmination of Metropolis and Worried About Henry promised a spectacular night at the Warehouse Project, bringing in huge names from across the drum and bass genre.

To start things off, legendary DJ, David Rodigan, and Darkzy each took to the decks. The former played tracks from a large range of styles ranging from old school reggae to disco, all with a bassline twist, along with a large number of Shy FX hits due to his long running relationship with his fellow DJ.

Darkzy mostly played drum and bass classics, with notable exceptions for his remixes of ‘Angels’ and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, which was fun, if not a little cliched.

By far, the standout performance of the night was Holy Goof, who graced the Depot with his set just after midnight. His set was different from the others due to bassline remixes of more popular rap songs from artists such as Drake and Stormzy. This allowed the crowd to feel more included during the set while breaking up the skanking with a sing along.

Chase and Status closed the night out with their hour-and-a-half Return II Jungle set. Opening with arguably their most popular song, ‘No Problem’, they whipped the crowd up into a frenzy of excitement. The light shows married with their classic drum and bass style effortlessly, with wide green beams stretching right to the edge of the room allowing the people on the outskirts to feel more involved.

The set was definitely entertaining as could be seen by the number of people up on their friends’ shoulders. However, it was nothing ground-breaking and was noticeably similar to their sets at festivals like Parklife and SW4 over the summer.

The only real downside to the night came from particular songs like Maccy Gee’s iconic ‘Tour’ feeling a little overplayed. Not that this tune isn’t a great one, but, once you’re hearing for the sixth time, it can get a bit repetitive.

The highlight of the other stages was by far Hybrid Minds at the concourse. This stage has an interesting feature, where a separate raised part surrounds the DJ allowing for people to dance close enough to hear the DJs’ conversations. This original idea made the experience feel much more personal, and connected the DJs and ravers in a way that has rarely been seen before. Although most of the big names will be playing in the Depot itself, the concourse is definitely a stage worth visiting.

An extra £10 on top of an already pricey ticket will gain you VIP admission to the Depot. This allows for faster entry into the venue via a separate queue and access to the VIP section. However, the area itself was very disappointing: it consisted of a small bar with a higher up viewing point over the concourse. While it does offer a good view of the stage, it was quite far from the DJ and lacked the personal experience of being right by them. Overall, VIP does not give good value for money as it gave very little extras over regular admission.

8/10

Photo: James Carroll

Blurring the lines between political statement and live music: Manchester’s underground music scene

Written by Robbie Beale on . Posted in Music.

On the 25th of September a number of local bands came together to blur the lines between political statement and live music, with a special gig at Retro Bar, Manchester.

Taking place below the streets of the city, what started out as an unassuming local bands night ended up a timely comment on society in Britain today, perfectly encapsulating the dissatisfied, determined and defiant outlook of today’s youth. The supportive and collaborative atmosphere complemented the gig’s purpose of raising awareness about the plight of austerity – an issue that has severely impacted cities like Manchester in the North of England.

One of the bands performing on the night was the Stoke foursome Filth, who utilised heavy tones, bluesy riffs, and a harmonica to critique issues ranging from Brexit to Tory sponsored austerity. The raw energy and talent displayed in their live performance made for a primal experience not to be missed, with the anger and attitude of the lyrics being made clear with an enigmatic vocal delivery from Jack Melvin.

Another great up and coming political band on the bill were The Vandalis, who offered up a blues inspired mix of Post Punk and edge rock in order to shine a light on issues from sexual assault all the way to suicide and alienation in a divided country. Frontman Matt Loreti treated the crowd to Hendrix-style guitar hero antics, whilst guitarist George Wherry took on keyboard duty to close the set with a funky new original, and an explosive guest vocal performance.

Other highlights from the night came from a punked-up cover of ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials, courtesy of YUKA TREE, and a raucous set from the ever-melodic Hurray for Tuesday.

The bands showcased at the event remain committed to helping reduce inequality in the country. Years of austerity have been a huge burden on local music scenes up and down the country, with record numbers of venues closing in recent years. This gig shows that from hardship comes expression, and DIY punk is not dead – in fact, it is quite to the contrary.

The calibre and political posturing of these emerging bands shows that there is a whole new generation of socially conscious bands who are only just getting started.

Photo: Vita Student @ Flickr

Manchester graphene research: is the military muscling in?

Written by Jacklin Kwan on . Posted in Investigations.

Student activists have raised concerns about the funding of graphene research at the University of Manchester, after discovering that companies involved in military activities are helping to finance projects. 

Graphene is the world’s thinnest material and has been described as ‘revolutionary’ due to its unique properties. It was developed at the University in 2004, and its application areas include electronics, computing, optics and nanotechnology. 

Graphene research has become a key selling point for the University, which has been rapidly investing in and expanding its facilities in recent years. But questions are now being asked about some of the organisations helping to fund this research. 

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted by student activists revealed that the University is collaborating on graphene-related projects with defence contractors like BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Rolls-Royce among others.

The University says these companies were members of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre’s (GEIC) initial Advisory Board which no longer exists.

The National Graphene Institute (NGI), which is based in Manchester, opened in 2015 and looked towards industry partners for financial support, intending to produce graphene in commercially viable products.

Some private firms are also involved in the ‘GrapheneCore1’ and ‘Graphene-Based Revolutions in ICT and Beyond’ projects at Manchester, which are partly EU funded. 

Huda Ammori, a student activist that helped coordinate the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, uncovered through a series of FOI requests that defence contractors supplying Israel were members of an advisory council for one of Manchester’s flagship institutes and were also funding research.

Israel has been involved in conflicts with Palestine since the 1940s and has been condemned by the UN for its use of force against civilian protestors in Gaza. 

Huda told The Mancunion: “They denied my FOI request, I had to go to the Commission’s office [to appeal]. The Information Commissioner told the University that they would be found guilty of contempt of court if they didn’t give us the information.” 

Academics have also expressed concern over the growing relevance of militarised science research. A study published in October 2018 by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute laid bare China’s military collaboration with foreign universities.

In this study, the University of Manchester ranks as the fifth largest university collaborator outside China, measured in the number of published peer-reviewed papers with scholars that have affiliations with the People’s Liberation Army, the military wing of the Chinese Communist Party. 

The study also notes that dozens of scholars “obscured their military affiliations” in order to travel to Western countries. This was part of a larger policy described as “picking flowers in foreign lands to make honey in China”, these military scientists take back the cutting-edge technological expertise to the PLA.

Research in Manchester has received interest from members of the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese firms. Xi Jinping, the Chinese premier, visited Manchester’s flagship graphene institute with then Chancellor George Osbourne, expressing hope for closer links between Chinese businesses and the University. Osbourne also pushed for increased economic cooperation.

One such business that has been involved is Tunghsu Optoelectronics, which has stated in company reports to receive government subsidies in “military and civilian integration of high-level innovation”.

Responses to this relationship between defence and the military have been mixed, with some feeling uneasy about the funding and others pointing to its benefits. 

Toby James, a student pursuing a Masters in Physics, said: “It’s sad that the university chooses to accept money from such awful sources to be able to afford to fund research.”

Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan, a lecturer and researcher of nano-materials at the University, said that military funding isn’t necessarily problematic: “Where the military funding for graphene research leads to the development of new understanding and new technologies, there is plenty of potential for public benefit, just like with research that is supported by any other funding mechanism.”

Some of the worlds greatest innovations such as the internet, robotics, and modern telecommunications were part of large military projects during World War Two and the Cold War. 

Huda Ammori managed to uncover the funding streams after a long process, but admits that it’s not always easy to distinguish between those that are problematic: “A lot of components of science have dual uses… Researchers and students should be assured that our research is only going towards making the world a better place.”

A spokesperson for the ADS group, which represents UK businesses operating in the defence and security sectors, said: “The UK’s defence and security industry is a world leader, trusted to deliver innovative and advanced equipment to the UK Armed Forces and our international partners, keeping our country safe.

“The success of our defence industry makes an important contribution to our national prosperity, delivering 135,000 jobs in the UK in this high-value sector.”

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: “The University of Manchester has a rigorous and robust process of due diligence for research collaborations.

“The companies mentioned were members of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre’s (GEIC) initial Advisory Board which was made up of several different organisations.

“The Board’s purpose was simply to help facilitate the Centre’s launch and provide advice, which it duly fulfilled. Therefore the group no longer exists.

“The GEIC does continue to work in partnership with some of the companies named but we take all necessary measures to ensure our research is not used beyond its agreed application.”

Photo: Bradshaw79 @Wikimedia Commons

UoM invests in two top contributors of carbon emissions

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester currently has investments in BP and Royal Dutch Shell, two of the companies named among the 20 responsible for a third of all carbon emissions.

In an investigation by The Guardian, the companies were named as two of 20 responsible for producing a third of the world’s carbon emissions. BP is reported to produce 34.02 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent since 1965, and Royal Dutch Shell is reported to have contributed 31.95 billion tonnes.

The report follows efforts by several Russell Group universities – most recently the University of York – to move away from investing in fossil fuels, with some choosing to divest entirely.

The University’s investment portfolio does show some signs that leadership is considering divestment, with ExxonMobil, with whom the University had investments as recently as November 2018, no longer in the portfolio. ExxonMobil are reported to have produced 41.90 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent since 1965.

Speaking to The Mancunion, a University of Manchester spokesperson said that the University had developed a “Socially Responsible Investment Policy (SRIP)”, which allows them to “pursue an ethical investment approach,” and that the institution “no longer invests in companies with significant coal and oil sands revenues”.

However, environmental campaign group People and Planet score the University only 10/100 on ‘Ethical Investment and Banking’, stating that the University had no student representative on their investment committee and failed to divest from fossil fuel companies.

Speaking to The Mancunion last June, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell addressed concerns over ethical investments, saying: “I think you have to be careful about the difference between what is an important statement and what is a gesture.

“I worry about the fact we are a university that uses a great deal of fossil fuels, because we use a lot of electricity, for our students, for our facilities, for our research. I don’t want to make a gesture, if you like, just to keep some people happy when the bigger issue, and it is a big issue – I am really worried about climate change – is that we’ve got to reduce our use of fossil fuels.”

There was a wide consensus among students that the University should consider the ethical values of companies they choose to invest in. However, some questioned where exactly the institution’s investments lay.

Freya Dixon, a third-year Geography student said: “I find it bewildering that we are routinely told within the academic consensus, both in the humanities and the sciences, that fossil fuel usage is causing a climate crisis, yet the University still invests in these businesses.

“There is no explanation for where this money is going and quite frankly, I feel deeply troubled paying fees towards an institution that continues to prop these companies up. There is so much talk around making campus greener but it’s all half-hearted if you don’t get to the root of ecological catastrophe – big fossil fuel companies.”

One student, who chose to stay anonymous, commented: “This issue hinges on exactly where the investments lie. Last year, claims that the University was connected to the demolition of Palestinian properties, via their assets in Caterpillar, were unfair in representing the University’s intentions.

“However, I certainly agree that funds, if needing their value increased, should be placed in companies on the stock market with rigid ethical values and more humanitarian aims.”

A spokesperson from the University of Manchester press office said:  “We have developed a Socially Responsible Investment Policy (SRIP) which allows the University, as a charity, to pursue an ethical investment approach, whilst minimising any potential negative impact on our investment returns. The University’s Board Finance Committee, which determines our investment policy, will continue its considerations of ethical investments. As a university, we work closely with our investment managers to ensure our portfolio complies with our published SRIP and considers Environmental, Social and Governance issues as well as financial factors.”

“The University of Manchester no longer invests in companies with significant coal and oil sands revenues. Following an update to the University’s SRIP, our investment managers have been instructed not to invest in in companies that generate more than 5% of their revenue from thermal coal  or oil sands.” Both thermal coal – the type of coal used in power plants – and oil sands – also known as tar sands – are associated with producing high levels of carbon emissions and air pollution.

The University has stated: “We understand climate change is a global problem, and as a University we have a role to play in bringing our influence to bear. This update to the SRIP reinforces our approach that seeks to pursue a responsible investment, whilst minimising any potential negative impact on our investment returns.

“The University’s investment managers buy and sell shares on a regular basis and incorporate environmental, social and governance factors into their investment decision-making criteria, and are required to comply with the University’s SRIP.”

The amount of money that the University of Manchester has invested in these companies is currently unknown but the University has been contacted for comment.

Orientaliism: Marx's apologism

Opinion: Marx and the issue of Apologism

Written by Shaheena on . Posted in Books.

This week I continue looking towards the ever-present orientalism in our midst and how we should broach the topic.

Carrying on from last issue’s topic of literary depictions of Cleopatra, our focus this week is Karl Marx, and Edward Said’s critique of him in particular.

We know Marx was a journalist who travelled from place to place, and had a wider interest in the world at large, and its functions. We also know Marx, with Friedrich Engels, wrote the Communist Manifesto, a text which has done much to shape our history in the last century.

His essays on colonialism in India, however, contain elements of orientalist ways of thinking.

It is true that his argument isn’t overtly celebratory of Empire; he condemns oppressive means of rule, as would be expected of a man who had a hand in some of the most impactful socially and politically progressive movements over the last century.

However, he also uses charged language to imply a positive movement away from ‘despotic’ and, yes, he explicitly uses the term, ‘oriental’ social organisations that existed prior to colonialism. He frames colonialism as a step to revolution, one which was explicitly caused by England, whose actors ruled more ‘stupidly’ than unjustly, he argues.

By crediting England with a progression towards revolution in these essays, Marx gives positive value to the effects of colonialism.

You’ve probably rolled your eyes a couple of times at arguments like this, those comments that have an apologist twang to them. I know I did during my A-level history course on colonialism, and continue to do when reading assigned texts today. For me, the idea of Britain bestowing gifts on colonised subjects is an attempt to keep alive the idea of a benevolent Empire, that, maybe, wasn’t so bad after all.

Point being, there doesn’t have to be a counterpoint to balance out the human costs of colonialism. Aside from an imagined favouring of the Indian railways, which were built to make it easier to take resources to and from India for the purposes of Empire; aspects such as the unification and division of states, the way our world looks today, and other real consequences have affected the structure of modern geopolitics. The effects of Empire are ongoing.

Though the revolutions that flourished during the mid-twentieth century were in opposition to colonialism, this does not make colonialism a necessary step. Britain is not a force that brought about utopia for these countries with colonial rule. This is also a point Said picks up on throughout Orientalism. Said doesn’t condemn the man, he gives us food for thought when approaching ideas rooted in Orientalism, no matter how progressive the figures we may celebrate are.

Said makes the point that Marx was working from a pre-existing understanding of the ‘orient’. So, rather than this article be a condemnation of Marx, I make an appeal to read with caution, engage actively and be free to critique what you read. Don’t feel as if any political figure or writer remains infallible. Peel away at any dogmatic elements of Marx or Marxist readings that you come across, every writer is fallible and susceptible to the prejudices and modes of thought of their contemporary era.

The Manchester Arndale Centre. Photo: Lisa Murgatroyd

Five injured in Arndale Centre stabbings

Written by Nicole Wootton-Cane on . Posted in News.

Five people have been injured after multiple stabbings at the Arndale Centre in central Manchester. 

The shopping complex has been evacuated, and a man in his 40s has been arrested. At the time of writing, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say counter-terror officers are leading the investigation.

The stabbings took place at approximately 11:17 this morning. Police have not confirmed if there are any fatalities.

A picture sent to the Manchester Evening News appears to show someone being treated outside a Starbucks cafe.

GMP have said that specialist officers are continuing to respond and added they are keeping an open mind about the “motivation of this terrible incident”. 

There is a heavy police presence around the Arndale with the centre on lock down and no people being allowed in or out. Trams running outside the Arndale have also stopped operating.

Videos emerged of the police apprehending a man and holding him to the ground while aiming at him with a taser.

Greater Manchester Police said: “Specialist officers are continuing to respond to an incident at the Arndale shopping centre in #Manchester city centre. We can confirm that five people have been stabbed and taken to hospital.

“In these early stages, we are keeping an open mind about the motivation of this terrible incident and the circumstances as we know them.

“Given the location of the incident and its nature officers from Counter Terrorism Police North West are leading the investigation as we determine the circumstances.

“A man in his 40s – who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of serious assault – remains in custody for questioning.”

North West Ambulance Service said: “We are dealing with an incident in Manchester city centre. We have a number of resources at the scene and we are working with our emergency service partners to manage the incident. We can confirm that five people have been stabbed and taken to hospital.”

Follow @gmpolice on Twitter for any updates.

Show Racism the Red Card launches 5th Wear Red Day

Written by James Owen on . Posted in Sport.

This October Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC), the UKs leading anti-racism educational charity will be putting on there fifth annual Wear Red Day. This day will take place on the 18th October in England and Wales, and recently took place in Scotland back on the 4th October.

The aim of this day, as stated on the SRtRC website, is to raise donations for the charity, to which pledges ‘every pound raised will enable us to work with more young people and adults to challenge racism in society’.

This day follows a continued spike of racism in football, with reported incidents against Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, and Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham. Recent footage had also emerged of Aston Villa fans singing a racist song that involves two first team players.

This spike in racial abuse towards footballers has also transcended into the wider world, with social media platform Twitter, saying it has “taken action” on “more than 700 examples of hateful conduct” in the past two weeks. This is all whist the London Met Police have recorded a staggering 35.4% increase on racist and religious hate crime in London between January and July.

By raising money and spreading awareness on the 18th October Show Racism the Red Card looks to educate youth: ‘challenging them to think critically about the information that they receive and understand the harm caused by division and hatred.’

This message is primarily taught through workshops set in primary and secondary schools, led by both a team of educators and ex-professional footballers, aiming to provide knowledge to students in the hope they can use this to better understand and combat ‘racist and prejudicial ideas’.

A couple of major football clubs have already aligned themselves with the charity. West Ham United have partnered with SRtRC to launch a ‘stop the hate programme’. An planned outcome of the programme is to engage with up to 25 schools across the Barking and Dagenham Borough.

Arsenal football club are another premier league club involved, launching an event on the 11th October. The club will bring together 120 students from schools in North London to explore racism, hate crimes and stereotyping followed by a tour of Arsenals Emirates stadium.

These both follow a successful event hosted by Sunderland football club which included a question and answer session with current Sunderland Men’s players Alim Ozturk, George Dobson and SAFC Ladies player Charlotte Potts.

If you wish to register for Wear red day or just find out more about the cause visit the website of Show Racism the Red Card’s website.

Khalifa International Stadium

Silver linings for Brits despite difficult Doha conditions

Written by Kate Jackson on . Posted in Sport.

The 2019 World Athletics Championships was, unfortunately for the athletes, dominated by a number of controversies involving the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) decision to make Doha the host city. However, despite, difficult conditions, there were some brilliant performances on display, including Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

The major talking point of the championship concerned the low attendances in the stadium. In the first eight days of the competition at the Khalifa International Stadium – which holds 48,000 at full capacity – there was an average of only 20,000 in attendance. It was very discouraging to see athletes performing at the highest level in front of, at times, less that 10,000 people. The day of the women’s 100m final, saw only 7,266 people in attendance.

To make matters worse the IAAF announced that they purchased many of the tickets and distributed them to “embassies, employees, schools and higher education”. This was clearly an act of damage control by the organisers to combat the low interest from those in Doha.

The excessive heat, which is unsuprising for Qatar, added to the problems for the organisers.

Both the men and women’s marathon races were affected by the heat, even though the races were ran in the early hours of the morning when the temperature was at its lowest. The women’s marathon saw almost half the competitors unable to make it to the finish line, with some collapsing due to the sweltering heat. Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich was the eventual winner, though her time was the slowest winning time in the history of the championship.

Lord Coe, president of the IAAF and key orchestrator in the London Olympics, defended the event: “It is pretty clear to us on athlete performance this is the best World Championships we have ever had.”

Controversies aside, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for those watching back home.

Dina Asher-Smith was the standout performer for British team after becoming the first Brit to win three medals at a major global championships.

Asher-Smith’s first target was the 100m, which saw her sail through the rounds to grab a place in the final. Her time of 10.88 in the final – a British record – got her the silver medal. This was the first world sprint medal for Britain in 36 years. Despite putting in a record-breaking performance, it was not enough to pose a threat to Jamaica’s Shelley-Ann Fraser-Price, who posted a scintillating time of 10.71 to take home the gold and her eighth world title.

The Brit managed to go one better in the 200m final, however, cruising home in a time of 21.88 – another British record – to become world champion. Second-placed Brittany Brown could not challenge Asher-Smith with her time of 22.22, neither Mijinga Kambundji with her time of 22.51. Following the event Asher-Smith couldn’t contain her joy, saying: “I’m lost for words. I dreamed of this and now it’s real. I don’t think it’s properly sunk in.”

While being ranked number one in the world this year, Asher-Smith will face stiff competition at the Tokyo Olympics next year. Notable absences from this race include Barbadian Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Jamaican duo, Elaine Thompson and Shelley-Ann Fraser-Price, who will, alonside Asher-Smith, also be on the hunt for the Olympic title in Tokyo.

Following Dina Asher-Smith’s success, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, another big hope for the Tokyo Olympics, gave an impressive performance to take home the gold in the women’s heptathlon. After personal best scores in four of the seven events – 100m hurdles, high jump, shot-put, and, the final event, 800m – KJT performed at her best when it mattered the most. Her points total of 6981 overtakes Jessica Ennis-Hill’s previous British record and, despite falling just shy of the coveted 7000, is the 6th highest total in the history of the event.

KJT managed to beat her rival, and the favourite for the gold, Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, who came into the event as the reigning world and Olympic champion. Thiam finished the competition in second despite, most likely due to an elbow injury she was carrying, struggling in some of her favoured events.

KJT has suffered some major, and high profile, disappointments at the previous two world championships but the liverpudlian has finally managed to put together a complete programme on the world stage.

Britain’s medal haul was completed with two silver medals in the men and women’s 4×100 relay, giving Asher-Smith her third medal of the championships and sealed her place, if it was ever in doubt, as one of the all-time greats in British sprinting.

Despite this strong showing, however, this was still the lowest medal total for Britain at the World Championships in 14 years. The disappointment for both the men and women’s 4x400m relay teams, typically a strong event for both, meant that Britain fell short of their total from the last world championships (6).

While they were not in the thick of things challenging for medals, the mens 4x400m relay team faced further disappointment in their race as the baton was bungled on the final leg. In the women’s race, following the disqualification of the Jamaican team, the British women initially had grabbed the bronze medal. However, a successful appeal from the Jamaican’s saw the Brits drop down into fourth.

There were other close calls for the British team as Holly Bradshaw (pole vault), Callum Hawkins (marathon), and Adam Gemili (200m), also finished in fourth.

So, despite an undwhelming medal tally, there is still plenty to look forward to for British team at the Olympics next year.

Elsewhere in the championships there were some standout performances from the rest of the world. Allyson Felix broke Usain Bolt’s record of the most World Championship gold medals (12), winning two gold medals, bringing her total to thirteen, in the mixed and women’s 4x400m relays. Felix was competeing just eleven months after giving birth.

Other impressive performances came from Dalilah Muhammed (USA) who set another world record in the 400m hurdles; Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) who completed an unprecedented 10,000m and 1500m double win; and Timothy Cheruiyot’s (Kenya) commanding win in the men’s 1500m.

The 2019 Athletics World Championships proved to be controversial but the athletes didn’t let these circumstances put a damper on their performances.

Let’s hope Tokyo can put on an event that matches the talent of these athletes.

Gendered Language. Photo: fukapon @ Flickr

‘Put wood in th’hole!’ Can language unite town and gown?

Written by Zofia Gryf-Lowczowska on . Posted in News.

Do you know your mither from your mardy?

Regional dialect lessons have been set up by an online learning platform to help university students better integrate into the local community.

A survey by Quizlet found only a fifth of students regularly socialised with local residents.

It polled over 1,030 students aged between 17-24 across the UK. Half of respondents said that they “rarely” or “never” use, nor understand, local dialect or phrases.

Quizlet has worked with language experts, poets and local councils to develop the course with the aim of helping students understand and use local slang.

The study sets cover the 20 university towns in the UK with the greatest population of undergraduate students and include over 160 dialectic words and phrases.

For students arriving in Manchester, Dr Erin Carrie and Dr Rob Drummond of the research project Manchester Voices have produced a list of essential phrases, including ‘brew’, meaning tea, ‘mardy’, meaning moody, and ‘put wood in th’hole’, meaning close the door.

A total of 17 different organisations and individuals have contributed to this programme, including Manchester Voices, the University of Bristol, This is Edinburgh and Liverpool City Council.

Richard Gregory of Quizlet said: “We created this resource to try and mitigate those university jitters: teaching students about their new surroundings through the important pillars of language and culture. The relationship between students and the local population can sometimes be a challenge, and that’s why all these language experts wanted to get on board to help us bridge linguistic divides.”

 

 

University sport roundup: A new season begins

Written by Harry Deacon on . Posted in Sport.

The 2019/20 season kicked off in style for many university sports teams up and down the country on Wednesday, with the University of Manchester being represented by a huge number of students in a variety of sports.

The building excitement, however, was soon quelled, for the men’s football firsts that is anyway. A 0-0 draw away to Leeds Beckett suggests a cagey affair in which neither side was prepared to risk a losing start.

This said, the women’s first team would have been glad for a goalless draw, as they were beaten 3-0 by the UCFB firsts. Yet, with a long season still ahead there is plenty of time for redemption, starting with next week’s trip to Bangor.

Moving along to hockey and the first victory of the season for the men’s firsts. An impressive 4-2 away win in Sheffield will have set the side on their way to a promising campaign.

With a total of ten University of Manchester hockey teams competing this season there are sure to be some brilliant moments and the women’s seconds beating Salford’s firsts 5-0 will be an early contender for performance of the season.

With so many teams in action there will undoubtedly be ups and downs each week, making the overall BUCS competition – where all the university teams’ points are combined to a total score and put in a league against other universities – extremely exciting.

While the hockey sides were experiencing extreme highs on their first outings of the season, the rugby union men’s firsts were dealt an unfortunate blow. Narrowly losing out 18-14 to Bishop Burton’s firsts must have been frustrating, highlighting the competitiveness of the league.

The women’s netball firsts also returned to Manchester pointless as they were beaten 73-39 by a strong Nottingham side.

However, with six women’s netball teams all competing at strong levels, there are bound to be some great results each week for the university’s netballers. This week the stand-out performance come from the seconds, who comfortably dispatched off their Liverpudlian opponents 55-26.

Overall then, it was a mixed bag of results for the university in what was the opening fixtures for many. As the teams begin to gel and understand one another there will surely be increasingly impressive performances to come.

Furthermore, the results mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg in a university that is brimming with sporting talent.

Photo: Sebastian Schubanz @ Wikipedia Commons

How ‘Band-aoke’ is changing the socials scene

Written by Alex Cross on . Posted in Societies.

Beyond the initial pressures of drinking during freshers week, the next hurdle faced by students who do not drink is society socials.

Socials held by societies are often in an environment where consuming alcohol is the required activity. For some, this is a daunting prospect. The difficulty is, there are students who will deliberately not go to a social without a drink. ‘Band-aoke’ provides an environment where both can exist side-by side.

‘Band-aoke’ breathes new life into the standard karaoke drag. It allows a new and exciting form of social for societies. A live band accompanies singers with almost any song of their choosing. A large range of repertoire is available, from songs like ‘Tribute’ by Tenacious D to ‘Mr Brightside’ by the Killers.

The event is based in the Ziggy Sixx Social club on Wilmslow Road and, despite the cheap drinks, (3 Jägerbombs for a fiver), the environment itself is not centred around alcohol. This is unlike other bar or club-based socials that many societies prefer to plan.

Ziggy Sixx is frequented by music students, and is often used as a social space for the Manchester University Music Society. However, the ‘Band-aoke’ event itself is open to the public every Tuesday from 9pm.

The ‘Band-aoke’ musicians have a vast musical background in Manchester. The standards are Harry Smith (compere, sax, vocals), Sam Flynn (bass, bandleader, vocals), Thom Fripp (guitar), Matt Wilmot (keys), and Joe Luckin (drums).

When interviewing for this article it often crops up that ‘Band-aoke’ is in general a very positive atmosphere. The main focus of the room is on the song that is playing and the person singing it.

Harry Badger, a second year music student, makes a great contribution to the argument of the move away from a pressurised drinking environment. He maintains that it is a great place to hang out with people, as well as make friends.

Crucially, everyone’s always supportive regardless of how good or bad the performer is. Alcohol doesn’t really come into play in this sense, even though there are always the few that come and say that they are ‘amazed’ that one can perform sober.

Before Harry sang at Bandaoke he’d never sung in public before on his own. He made sure to emphasise how he is more confident now, especially as it wasn’t down to having had 5 or 6 pints. ‘Band-aoke’ further nurtures this behaviour with groups of singers being a common occurrence. This fosters a relaxed and fun environment; often a performance of ‘Summer Lovin’ from the musical Grease will be performed by a girl as Danny and a boy as Sandy, for example.

There seems to be clear distinction away from the apparent ‘need’ to be drunk to have a good time. So whilst some do treat it as a drinking event, it’s certainly not the same as a club atmosphere.

It’s easy to see how ‘Band-aoke’ encourages performance and friendship. It’s rare that the average student has the chance or inclination in other settings to jump up on stage in front of a lively crowd and sing their heart out. Therefore, ‘Band-aoke’ has reached new bounds in terms of society socials.

Photo: Magnus D @ Flickr

Survey suggests Manchester students spent £24m on freshers’ week

Written by Megan Oyinka on . Posted in News.

Manchester students spent £24m over the freshers’ period, according to figures from banking app Yolt.

Yolt surveyed 2,000 students across the country and calculated the average Manchester student spent £325 – £42 more than the UK average of £283.

A breakdown revealed that grocery shopping constituted the majority of spending, with course supplies the second highest expense.

Although often considered central to the student experience, socialising was ranked as third for total costs.

Beverly Agyekum, a third-year Politics and Modern History student at the University of Manchester said: “Everyone thinks freshers’ is expensive because of the partying culture that comes with the period, but in reality it’s expensive because we are settling into a new city and a new home, each year I’ve been in a different accommodation and each year settling into a new place has been expensive.”

Manchester has a reputation for inexpensive student life, having ranked third in a top 10 of affordable student citites compiled by What Uni’s? back in May. A Top Universities list of cheapest student cities placed Manchester in second place.

Yolt, the banking app behind this research, aims “to help people stay on top of their money and budget with ease, providing easy and efficient access to their finances by harnessing the power of Open Banking and the greater control it gives people over their financial data.”

Cristel Lee Leed, Chief Marketing Officer at Yolt, remarked that, “Freshers is a long-standing tradition at many universities across the UK and is a great introduction to all that student life can offer.

“Whilst the average spend during the period may seem quite high as a proportion of the average student monthly budget – it’s encouraging to see that most students are already recognising that budgeting is a life skill. Many students are starting out well before university and actively taking control and prioritising their budget to cover their living costs whilst at university.”

In Manchester, the beginning of the academic year provides a welcome increase in revenues for establishments across a city that has close to 100,000 students across its three major universities, according to Invest in Manchester. 

Seven injured in attack on Manchester-based charity in Syria

Written by Aidan Hunt on . Posted in News.

Six patients, one of whom is in serious condition, and a doctor were injured in a shelling attack on a clinic ran by Manchester-based charity Syria Relief.

The clinic in Idlib, Syria was hit by five shells in what Syria Relief suspects to be a “deliberate attack”.

In a statement on their website, the charity said: “The facility could not have been confused for a legitimate military target. It is a charity-run health centre to treat patients. It should not have been targeted for war.”

One woman is in a stable condition, and six others are being treated in hospital.

Around 60% of the healthcare infrastructure in Syria has been destroyed and few healthcare professionals have remained in the country. Syria Relief aims to provide emergency care to victims of the civil war. Based in Tameside, it is the largest Syria-focused charity in the UK.

The charity also manages a large number of schools in Syria, four of which have been hit since June, killing one child and injuring others.

Syria Relief has called on officials and the general public to offer help in any way they can. They are also appealing for donations to aid repair the damaged clinic and treat the victims.

The statement added: “We once again call on all military actors on the conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law and ceasing to deliberately attack medical facilities, schools and other civilian infrastructure.”

“We ask for your prayers, thoughts and donations to help us repair our damaged PHC. Please go to our Medical Appeal page to help us fund its refurbishment so it can go back to giving medical treatment to Syrian civilians.”

Manufactured Outrage? Our misguided leap towards automation

Written by Archie Earle on . Posted in Opinion.

At the conservative party conference, a policy appeared from the dust and rubble that few were expecting; a rise in the minimum wage to £10.50 within the next five years. This may appear as a victory for workers and a blow to business, eating into the profits of those at the top of the corporate food-chain, however by modern standards this will leave large corporations, at least, jumping for joy.

Automation is the reason why. The ever-clearer reality is that this policy, among many others, is leading towards robots and artificial intelligence becoming the cheaper alternative to human labour.

‘We have survived the previous three industrial revolutions’, you may be saying – and you’re  right we did. ‘The market adapts’, you may be saying – and it does have a tendency to do just that. However, these are naïve statements that do not capture the severity of the current situation.

Andrew Yang, the Democratic candidate in the current US presidential race, is warning of the impending automation crisis, insisting that it could lead to mass unemployment and shake the foundations of the American working class:

‘All you need is self-driving cars to destabilize society,’ he will often point out. This point may be more relevant to our neighbours across the pond, as long-haul truck driving contributes 1.7 million jobs to their economy, whereas in the UK, the number stands at only roughly 160,000.

The core of the issue is relevant as it shows that certain kinds of menial labour, that do not require higher levels of education, are at risk of being automated away. Just go into your local supermarket and observe the number of self-checkout machines compared to human employees. The change is coming and walking into it with our eyes closed could amplify the problem to a disastrous extent.

Our politicians’ response to this is, as with most issues, the key to what happens next. In the mire of current political discourse, our impending exit from the European Union dominates the debate and leaves little space for any other conversation to take place.

The office for national statistics published a report stating that up to 1.5 million jobs could be lost in the near future as a result of automation. This should be of concern to all of those in politics, yet to the exhaustion of all, it was published at peak Brexit conversation – only four days before we were originally set to leave – and as a result it was tossed to the side.

This is a sign of where we are as a democracy – heading for the cliff edge and, instead of trying to stop, we are just staring out the window.

So, where do we go from here? I imagine, as we always do, we will wait until the last possible moment before we do anything.

Regulation could be part of the answer. But this would have to be done soon as many companies, Amazon for example, are well under way in the process of automating and would see the prospect of having to dismantle expensive robotics as worthless, causing them to leave for a less regulatory burdened country.

Incentivising workers could again be part of the solution. This would almost definitely involve cutting the cost of employing workers, i.e reducing wages, which is profoundly unelectable and would lead to lowered incomes.

There is no perfect solution, apart from of course moving ourselves outside of the Brexit bubble and taking notice of a problem that will affect us all. Maybe I am a pessimist but, to the pain of millions, this prospect does not seem likely.