With the Conservative leadership campaign having resulted in the previous Foreign Secretary and London Mayor Boris Johnson entering No.10. The bigger question is about the current state of Brexit. The new president of the European Commissioner being Ursula Von der Leyen has proposed hopes for a delayed Brexit.
Ursula Von der Leyen- Presidential Elect of The European Commission (source: getty)
This new elect wasn’t met well by the Brexit Party. It has shaken up the political landscape following the European Elections where they were able to pull off a surprise result winning 29 out 73 seats in European Parliament. Further questions have been asked about the effects of Brexit on the country with ongoing uncertainty being a common theme amongst the whole nation.
If I become PM, we will leave the EU on 31st October, deal or no deal. Today I have asked @Jeremy_Hunt whether he will also commit to this date, no matter what. We must keep our promises to the British people and deliver Brexit – no ifs, no buts, and no second referendum. pic.twitter.com/YgRSfESSFY
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 25, 2019
Officials don’t seem to know where the dice will fall. If we are to leave on the 31st of October Johnson has made it clear that he would pull the UK out of the EU without a deal. Even stating “do or die”.
“We are getting ready to come out on 31 October. Come what may,” he said. When asked to confirm this, adding: “Do or die. Come what may.” – Boris Johnson adamant of pulling the UK out of the EU on the 31st of October no matter the outcome. (source: guardian)
Even more bold of him was his attempt to suspend Parliament resulting in MPs being sent home for the 2 weeks in order to execute his plans of a no-deal Brexit. This was further blocked by MPs who advocated that MPs should be able to sit in on the events running up the 31st of October, where the motion was passed 315 to 274 a majority of 41.
Boom ! Any plans Boris Johnson may have had to suspend parliament to secure No Deal have just been dealt a bodyblow by MPs
There are worries that following his appointment as the new Prime Minister, the Johnson government may receive a potential backlash over fears they will be blamed for the aftermath of Brexit in the likelihood that it is devastating.
“People are shaken. The basis on which we have worked all our careers suddenly feels challenged”
Simon McDonald, Head of the Foreign Office
Simon McDonald, Head of the Foreign Office Highlighting Fears For The Civil Service In The Midst Of A Johnson Government.
Civil servants have been frantically trying to piece together contingency plans for the past 3 years. But with the attitude towards Brexit becoming much of a ‘values project’, it has made things difficult for Whitehall to come up with a genuine strategy, given the differing values on Brexit for Remainers or Brexiters.
#Brexit has devalued sterling by approx a quarter, reduced our financial status from 5th to 7th wealthiest, pretty much decimated the automobile industry in the UK, cost countless jobs, and put us into recession – BEFORE we've even left. If this isn't #Treason, then what is?
Eyes are also being pointed to the value of the Pound which last Wednesday fell 1.24 below the dollar, following Brussels’ rejection of the Irish backstop. From an investor’s perspective avoiding investment in the UK amidst uncertainty with Brexit is likely. The plans for concrete contingencies in place for businesses in the UK, in the scenario of a no deal or hard Brexit, means that investors may wish for another extension.
In a few months’ time the pendulum for the pound could swing either way. The effects on the UK are now being reflected within the economy although the UK has been resilient and hasn’t fallen into macroeconomic catastrophe following the referendum result – even with worries cast by the Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney. But what is noticeable, is a fall of investment within the UK which is no doubt due to the economic slowdown because of the tensions and toll Brexit negotiations and May’s government has had. Leaving several investors with no assurance of investing within the UK.
Take a look at the main #Brexit backers. Ask yourself, do you have anything in common with them? Rees-Mogg(s), Farage, Bitter-Batten, Bone, Cash, Redwood, Lilley, Johnson, Lawson… FFS! Smell the coffee! They are making big money personally out of this #Brexit mess now! Are you? pic.twitter.com/zi9r0qstAW
For me and much of the country, Brexit has become a nuisance. It is constantly being covered by the news and very little has actually been cleared up. The same scares of economic slowdown and loss of jobs from one side contrasted with the high hopes of enlightenment are confusing and creating apathy.
"I get up every day and put my head in my hands about #Brexit – I think it's the stupidest thing we ever tried to do." – Brian May, Queen. pic.twitter.com/GwhV1BkKy6
— ? Barry Smith #DitchToriesSaveLives #FBPE ?? (@BarryNL) July 22, 2019
The country wants this episode of Brexit Madness to be put to be bed one way or another, and hopefully come October 31st it will all be resolved. Maybe through a second referendum, or a miraculous deal with Brussels or a no deal Brexit. Nonetheless our stamina as a whole has been drained by this chapter, and it’s time for a new one to be put in place, and my hopes is for Mr Johnson to do so.
Lewis Capaldi is making headways, having sold over a million albums worldwide. While we may personally find Capaldi’s music drab and depressing, we’re even more confused by how his music matches up with his social media fuelled millennial joker persona.
Take the TV advert for his album for example: Capaldi sits in funny positions, saying funny self-deprecating things about his girlfriends, being…funny? Meanwhile, his miserable hits drone on in the background. The paradox is laughable, but perhaps not for the reasons Capaldi intended.
Lewis Capaldi’s TV Advert for his debut album
In defence of Capaldi, his humour is undeniably relatable and the success of it is understandable – his unflattering selfies are reminiscent of the type of Snapchat streak you only hold with one of your best mates. While I’m not fan of his album, Divinely Hellish to a Hellish Extent, Capaldi is certainly talented and there is no reason why he doesn’t deserve his current success. It is therefore very easy to be conflicted by Noel Gallagher’s comments which started the war between the two musicians. In an interview with Radio X, Gallagher boldly states “music is f***ing wank at the moment”, continuing, “Who’s this Capaldi fella? Who the f***’s that idiot?”. Catch his comments at 23:15 mins in:
In theory, I share the same opinion as
Gallagher, but I’m not sure what this says about me. Gallagher has managed to
stay relevant with ready-to-soundbite insults,
touring off the back of his success with Oasis, and holding a very
public feud with brother Liam. Rather than brush off the Manc’s uncalled for
comments like most of his other victims, Capaldi reacted with a video on Snapchat.
The singer wrote “What
a day. It’s Father’s Day and I’m getting slagged off by a man who’s old enough
to be my da. I’ve never been more happy. Happy Father’s Day, Noel.”
Gallagher then tweeted this video of his 11 year old son, telling Capaldi to find
“some joy” in his music.
.@LewisCapaldi you big daftie. You might wanna try and find some joy in your tunes you're destroying the youth..my 11yr old is in bits. pic.twitter.com/YBnZlVKSfU
Following this, Capaldi used his set at Glastonbury to mock Gallagher, walking onto the stage decked out in a khaki parka and a t-shirt emblazoned with Noel’s face in a love heart. It is clear that Capaldi refuses to be intimidated by Gallagher’s provocative remarks. Capaldi then posed with Liam Gallagher, which would have only incensed Noel further.
Laying into him in an interview with Variety
magazine, Gallagher stated:
“F—ing Chewbacca should enjoy his 15 minutes. The greatest
day of his life that I slagged him off or called him an idiot. It’s the
greatest day of his f—ing life so far. He’s just thinking, “Wow!” Well, I know
you’re Scottish and all that, but f—ing hell! It is like a third
world country, but for f—‘s sake, man, you must have had a better day than
this. Surely!”
Many Scots were rightfully offended by Noel’s description of
Scotland as a “third world country”. Aside from demeaning a nation in one swoop,
the term itself is no longer considered politically correct. Capaldi swiftly
changed his Twitter photo to himself as Chewbacca and his handle to ‘Chewis
Capaldi’. Capaldi certainly knows how to play to his audience and his adept use
of social media draws attention to the fact that Noel Gallagher is older, less
in touch and unable to play into the hands of Generation Z.
Chewis Capaldi Source: @LewisCapaldi Twitter
Capaldi then made a winning move last weekend at TRNSMT
festival, making a grand entrance wearing a Chewbacca mask, which he is
auctioning for the charity Tiny Changes, having already raised over £5000. It’s fair to say he has outdone Gallagher:
Capaldi’s outwitting of Gallagher’s comments is certainly
laudable. With hope, Noel Gallagher might think twice about his self-constructed
role of the UK’s omnipotent cultural critic. Oasis was one of the most
successful bands to have come out of Britain, but Noel’s continual criticism of
Britain’s youth culture highlights his exclusion from it. As a 52-year-old, is the
ex-frontman supposed to understand youth culture? In his interview with Variety,
Gallagher stated that “I meet young people, and they’re so culturally lost
at the moment. All they can do, young people, is take pictures of each other.” With
his avid use of social media to subvert cultural snobs such as Gallagher, Lewis
Capaldi has managed to weaponise comedic pictures and social channels to
undermine a showbusiness bully. Yes, all young people do is take pictures of
each other, this suggests, and Noel Gallagher cannot be part of it. Capaldi arguably
hit the perfect nerve, showing the former lead vocalist of Oasis that he
is no longer relevant to modern popular culture.
Noel Gallagher performing with his High Flying Birds Source: The Spectator
Conversely, Capaldi completely played into Gallagher’s hands. Noel has received press attention he clearly so desperately seeks, with no actual detriment to his public perception. I’m not sure if I agree with Capaldi’s decision to dedicate the opening of his set to making fun of Gallagher. Playing Glastonbury is the highlight of many artists’ careers and an opportunity for Capaldi to create a moment in history as a pop singer at the peak of his popularity. By wearing a Gallagher t shirt, Capaldi exemplified the argument that millennials have no youth culture of our own. However controversial it may have been, Noel Gallagher was entitled to state his opinion. By reacting so heavily to Gallagher’s Radio X interview, Capaldi has essentially demonstrated an inability to accept criticism. Gallagher might be an irritating figure, but the success of Oasis did earn him his stationed spot in the music industry, whether he remains relevant or not.
Loving life in funny sunnies at The Brits Source: Edinburgh Live
With his talent and popularity, Lewis Capaldi’s music is not going anywhere soon. Although I might not like his songs, it is heartwarming to see a star with both a sense of humour and humility take the limelight. He is certainly more of a likeable character than Noel Gallagher, who pops up every now and then to insult someone.
I can’t help feeling, however, that if a feud between a fading rock star and the latest pop star is the most current British cultural news, then Gallagher may have a point. It is certainly no Blur vs Oasis. However, if millennial musicians are taking themselves less seriously, it might reflect a refreshing awareness that pop music is not the be all and end all. In the meantime, the battle has certainly provided plenty of enjoyable entertainment for the public.
How do you like your 007? Black or white? Well look no further, black female 007 is here, and it’s shaking and stirring.
It has been announced that Black British actress Lashana Lynch will be the new 007.
Lashana Lynch to play the new 007
Lynch will take over from Daniel Craig, but it is not a complete overhaul as she is simply taking James Bond’s secret agent number after the character retires from MI6. This has already been characterised as a momentous day for young black women.
The Daily Mail quoted from an anonymous “movie insider”, who proclaimed the 25th film opens with Bond (Craig), who is retired in Jamaica and is called back to action to fight a new villain.
“There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says, ‘Come in 007’, and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman,” the source said.
“Bond, of course, is sexually attracted to the new female 007 and tries his usual seduction tricks, but is baffled when they don’t work on a brilliant, young black woman who basically rolls her eyes at him and has no interest in jumping into his bed.”
However, as with most things, there are two sides to this coloured coin.
I don’t agree with having a BAME actor play Bond. It’s not realistic. Think about who James Bond is, he’s a bloke who travels around the world murdering people & getting away with it. The only people who can do that are rich white men who went to Eton.#JamesBond
Twitter user @failinghuman ‘”I don’t agree with having a BAME actor play Bond. It’s not realistic. Think about who James Bond is, he’s a bloke who travels around the world murdering people & getting away with it. The only people who can do that are rich white men who went to Eton. #JamesBond
A sarcastic joke, but historical resounding accurate.
I don’t want a female Bond. James Bond was created by Ian Fleming as a man. Thankfully Barbara Broccoli told the @guardian last year there will never be a female Bond. If you’re a feminist, create your own bad ass spy don’t piggyback off an already existing male character!
@askJillian “I don’t want a female Bond. James Bond was created by Ian Fleming as a man. Thankfully Barbara Broccoli told the @guardian last year there will never be a female Bond. If you’re a feminist, create your own bad ass spy don’t piggyback off an already existing male character!”
Interestingly anger towards the new 007 has emerged. Does Ian Flemming as the author of the James Bond stories have objections to who can play 007? If so would he agree with a changing of the literal colours and gender of 007?
Is the tide of black female heroism changing?
Last week it was announced that actress Halle Bailey will play the lead Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
Actress Halle Bailey will play the lead Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
There was outcry with some people even using science to explain why Ariel as a mermaid could not possibly be black.
lol at people actually thinking that Ariel cannot be played by a black actress because of 'mermaid science' pic.twitter.com/5Djt0Wrfkn
Disney was even accused of “Blackwashing.” Paralleling statements around reverse racism, as explained by the twitter user @LaulaGrimm “White washing = a white actor (for example) gets a role for a black character Blackwashing = is the opposite Disneys Ariel is white. So Black Washing. It’s not rocket science.”
White washing = a white actor (for example) gets a role for a black character
Black washing = is the opposite
Disneys Ariel is white. So Black Washing. It's not rocket science.
Unfortunately, there is one major flaw in this argument that moves outside the realm of fiction into reality, mermaids are not real and the Little Mermaid is fictional, which can make it subject to change.
Disney had to defend themselves and their decision to cast a black actor for Ariel.
Is this the Black superhero we’re looking for?
Whilst Bond to some is a hero to others, he is not. A bastion of the freedoms entrenched in the law to stop tyranny and exercise justice. Fighting threats to democracy and putting his life on the line is the earmark of Britishness.
The majority of superheroes appearing on our television screens are white and so the term ‘superhero’ has become synonymous with a white men.
Debatably, this has not only overlooked the capabilities and talents of individual black superheroes but it has impacted popular culture. To be both black and a superhero has historically been inconceivable unless we go back to Blade played by Wesley Snipes who paved the way for many other black superheroes.
Danai Guria in Black Panther
In Black Panther, the strength of the fictional Wakandan kingdom came from Okoye played by Danai Gurira who was strong, capable and determined, resolute and was no pushover to the men who ruled the throne. This was powerful for many young women, girls all over the world inside and outside of blackness. She was also bald similarly to Lynch’s natural hair. Otherwise known as “Nappy headed afro, with its kinks and curls.”
Lynch will be the new 007, I wonder too how the film will navigate her blackness, her femininity in the modern-day age
Movies are a crucial space in popular culture that allows us to see the worlds outside of ourselves and this space is highly appreciated by black women who have suffered in the hands of poor representation.
To many, representation does not matter, however to some communities seeing themselves on a screen gives them hope beyond their wildest dreams and it becomes tangible.
There are, after all, certain things that we cannot deal with in our lives, and we want to have this idea that there is somebody that could deal with it. As people, we endure and continue to survive racism and trauma. There is somebody that could save us from racism, because we have seen, felt, lived and been birthed in the trauma that is racism. We see civil war in our communities and war on the black body. We see black bodies killed. We see trauma in our lives, so the idea that we could be saved by something feels almost liberating. We were saved by Black Panther, Ariel is going to be played by a black woman.
It is nearly impossible to quantify how important it is that we be able to see people that look like us in entertainment, but the concept and image of a Black female 007 is something special and unique.
In the last few years, there has been an increasing apathy and disassociation towards any sense of political involvement amongst the majority of millennials in the UK. Though voter turnout between the ages of 18-24 has steadily increased since 2005, figures show that in the 2017 general election, just under half of the millennial population did not vote. This begs the question: Could it be that there are still so many young people in the UK that are not interested in politics, and if so, why and what can be done to resolve this?
Do millennials care about politics? Source: The Atlantic
The root problem
One of the biggest issues that could be the cause of many young people disengaging with the political sphere, may be as simple as a lack of understanding of what is going on in British Politics. As politics is not a compulsory subject taught in schools, many students do not know anything about the British political system until they reach the age of 16, and even then, they must have actively chosen it as an A-level. So many young people go through life being completely alienated from politics.
It’s likely that during the build up to a general election, some millennials feel pressured to vote and embarrassed that they’re not as informed as they are expected to be when they reach their mid-20s. It’s clear that the best way to tackle this issue would be from the root, to make Politics a compulsory subject in schools, so that millennials will at least have some form of basic understanding of the British political system as they come of age.
Who cares? No one
It is difficult to determine where the apathetic ping-pong between millennials and politicians first began – but one thing is for sure that politicians have been just as apathetic and out of touch towards young people. According to the Independent, Charlotte Gill writes: “For years millennials have been sidelined in Parliament, where the average age of members is 50, so our problems continue to spiral. Unfortunately, our plight is only ever mentioned when someone needs to promote the EU (“think of the young people!”). No one dares bring up the practical, everyday issues millennials struggle with”.
It’s clear that it’s in the hands of MPs to break this ongoing tension by making more of an effort to deliberately target millennial support – which is likely to be easier said than done given that the majority of Parliament is made up of adults in their 50s.
Trip Gosain, 19, is an ex-Youth Parliament member and founded Millennial Counsel in October 2017 after working on several campaigns and seeing the disillusionment between politicians and young people. He states that in order for politicians to engage more with young people, they must:”Build a plan around engaging millenials in the community, in real life. Attend events and make sure this is reflected in your social media output. Develop messaging that works for a specifically under-30’s audience. Messaging on issues. Use personality in social media. If you don’t have one that works, make sure you hire someone who can deliver it for you.”
Trip Gosain formed Millennial Counsel to bridge the politics generation gap. Source: Yorkshire Evening Post
Is it pointless?
There are many initiatives that can be introduced to get young people more engaged in British politics: lowering the voting age, making voting compulsory as done in Australia, even making studying politics obligatory in schools – but are all these efforts futile? According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK is an ageing population, which could mean that whether millennial voter turnout increases or not, the older population has greater influence. Brexit is a prime example of this. According to newstatesman.com, 74 year old Liberal Democrat Leader Vince Cable states: “The older generation shafted the young. Their life chances have been radically affected by what the older generation has decided”.
It’s clear that “Millennials are in a rut, and no one can be bothered to step in. Which is unfortunate because one day we will be entrusted to care for the very population that neglected our needs”,Charlotte Gill states. “Perhaps it’s time for a change; perhaps it’s time for a millennial party”. One thing is for sure is that British politicians need to wake up and see that their diminishing relationship with British millennials is a pressing issue. Is there hope for improvement or should we just accept the reality of an unchanging situation?
The nature of crashes is they are often seen in the rear-view
mirror. Only in retrospect does it become clear they have happened. Except for
1987, they haven’t been short blips.
It took the summer of 1932 for the 1929 Great Depression to bottom out at 90% retreat. Every time the market turned upward a few days, hopes were lifted that the pain was over, the bottom in place and the market in recovery mode. The same applied in 2001 and 2007.
The next downturn won’t be seen, and it will take its good old time.
January 2007, banking stocks slowly crumbled as they were
weighed down by “non-performing loans”. The markets as a whole continued to
rise. It wasn’t until fall 2007 that the rest of the market started to
comprehend the depth and scope of the issue.
A market crash is like missing the forest for the trees. We are 10 years into a bull market and the cracks are starting to appear, slowly but surely.
A bull market is a market where share prices are rising, encouraging buying
From start-ups rushing to the market with all time high
total market capitalizations anticipating slowly earnings growth. Chinese
downturn and weak European data. Significant deficits in the US, which could
well be exacerbated by a recession, hampering the Fed response to stimulate the
economy. Share buybacks have been propping up earnings. Trade tariffs have cost
consumers over 20 billion dollars in 2018 alone, and are set to worsen as companies
are forced to relocate, switch out banned or expensive technologies and cut
back operations. The yield curve briefly inverted which has occurred pre to the
last 7 recessions. Trump tax cuts are accelerating US deficits. The housing
market is cooling, and with it the wealth effect and consumer confidence,
feeding into a diminishing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI). While these
factors do not entail a recession in and of themselves, the market reacts to a
confluence of news. These can worsen or abate depending on new economic and
geopolitical inputs as and when they arise.
No one can predict the future with any degree of certainty. Anyone who knows a crash is imminent will have magically gained an insight no other has. If you find them, let me know and I’ll leverage every piece of property to my name, mortgage my home and convert all to cash and short using the most leveraged instrument like index futures with a strike far out of the money.
Sarcasm aside, what
makes investors good returns is not timing the market but time in the market.
Monthly contributions
over many years will average out these dips and troughs in widely diversified
plays. But there is something to be said for placement and rebalancing. It is
starting to look like the bull market has run its course, bar the US election
year looming.
The problem for investors isn’t just falling prices but the risks built into the financial system, the most potent of which in recent memory was the 2008 market collapse, acutely felt in properties and stocks.
Alternatives to Decouple From Risk
The problem with
asset-based financial instruments is their interconnectedness. The ease with
which new products can be built from existing instruments already accepted as
having value has spawned a financial system with two critical flaws. One being
every aspect of the system is connected to every other aspect of the system
meaning that the failure of one institution can precipitate catastrophic
failure in the system itself. Secondly, the extent of the risk of this interdependent
system cannot be quantified, i.e. the risk is unknown.
The 2007 subprime mortgage
bailouts with the collapse of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008 led to a full-blown
international banking crisis. Excessive risk-taking helped to magnify the
financial impact globally. Massive bail-outs and palliative monetary and fiscal
policies were employed to prevent the world financial system’s collapse.
Steve Eisman, perhaps
know best as played by Steve Carell in “The Big Short”, happened to see this
coming. He described the situation like so:
“There’s no limit to the
risk in the market. A bank with a market capitalization of one billion dollars
might have one trillion dollars’ worth of credit default swaps outstanding. No one
knows how many there are! The failure of, say, Citigroup might be economically
tolerable. It would trigger losses to Citigroup’s shareholders, bondholders,
and employees – but the sums involved were known to all. Citigroup’s failure,
however, would also trigger the payoff of a massive bet of unknown dimensions
from people who had sold credit default swaps on Citigroup to those who had
bought them.”
The “unknown dimensions”
quoted by Eisman are the dependencies of other institutions on, in this case,
Citigroup. That is to say, the value of financial institutions – banks, insurers,
brokerages, clearing houses – all depends on others in the chain. This mutual
dependence is the result of asset-based instruments, and the scope of its risk
lies in the inability to assess the exposure. Combined, these represent systemic
institutional failure.
Belief-based instruments
like gold or oil are unlikely to carry the same systemic failure risk, because their
value does not depend on another asset by necessity. Bitcoin and oil may well
carry value even in the event of worldwide financial system collapse. A good
analogy would be comparing them to the internet, one asset fails and another
can take its place.
Failing development of
belief-based instruments like Tether coin pegged on parity with the US dollar,
redeemable for fiat-currency at any time. Media in 2018 stated it was not backed
by US dollars. This would mean that the parity is established as a function of
expectations. Therefore, it demonstrates belief-based instruments can track specific
stated value, e.g. tokens track spot price of gold without the risks of
exposure to the asset-based instruments and the token value would be outside
legislative security requirements.
A point of failure is
isolated, quantifiable and limited to the sum invested. Any repercussions are thereby
limited. It would open possibilities of saving as a form of investment,
currently made not possible because of the inflationary nature of fiat
currencies.
This paves the way for
investment products that deviate from the unquantifiable, systemic risks of institutional
failure arising from asset-based instruments (hedge funds, derivatives).
A decoupling would
preserve value should globally interconnected markets and their institutions
fall.
Failing faith in cryptographic tokens, what are the alternatives?
Short term fixed
deposits earning higher interest as the Fed raises interest rates to cool the
overheating economy. Other Central Banks tend to follow suit. Current stock
valuations at all-time highs, so when the dip comes, you may want to wait it
out for confirmatory trend reversal. In 2000, it took 3 years to reach the
bottom. Valuations are not far off 2000, meaning this crash may last longer
than expected. Shorting the S&P E-Mini Future Contract with leverage and
liquidity, and sans the premium decay of options.
Experts tell us to sit
tight and wade it out. Experts are generally the same. For those of a nervous
disposition, seeing half your net worth evaporate before your eyes, being told
to pucker up and sit put isn’t a whole lot of comfort as they watch their
hard-earned savings sink. Instinct tells us to sell out before it gets worse.
Stock
market crash vs stock market correction
The occasional crash is the price paid by investors for the higher returns available from stock markets. Otherwise, investing would be easy. The trouble is, people tend to over-react to volatility, often selling out just as markets are about to recover. In fact, what may seem like a crash is actually a correction, defined as 10% fall as opposed to a 20% fall. Corrections are natural parts of the cycle and occur annually according to Deutsche Bank.
Investors should bear in mind: the strongest gains often come after the biggest falls.
So Should I Sell?
The US research group Dalbar
runs a study on investor behaviour each year.
It has found investors
have lost an average of 8% per year over the last 30 years, as a result of
buying at the wrong time and selling at the wrong time. As such, it’s crucial
to stay invested, no matter how uncomfortable it feels.
There is one exception to the rule: Japan 1989 December 29th. The Nikkei reached 38,916 all-time high. The asset bubble had surged upwards with property prices leading the way. What goes up must come down as they say. After 30 years, the Nikkei sat at 21,269.
So, although patience tends to pay, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
The latest advert by Cancer Research UK has caused quite a stir as there has been a huge backlash against the advert.
#obesity is not always what people choose! It is incredibly difficult to loose weight too. However, there is no reason to pussyfoot around the scientific fact that obesity is a hugely contributing factor for all sort of illness including #cancer! Well done #CancerResearchUK
The advert has continued to highlight the diametric opposing sides on conversations about if there is a right and wrong way when it comes to talking about obesity.
Twitter user Wrishi Basu said: “#obesity is not always what people choose! It is incredibly difficult to lose weight too. However, there is no reason to pussyfoot around the scientific fact that obesity is a hugely contributing factor for all sort of illness including #cancer! Well done #CancerResearchUK.”
In an act of dissent Left, “obesity is a cause of cancer too, weight stigma causes shame not health” Right “obesity is a cause of cancer to fatphobia ” middle “anti-fat bias”
Comparing smoking with obesity is reductive, harmful and ineffective. Good intentions do not absolve fatphobic stigmatising of larger bodies through this campaign – even if this is not the point. Addressing nutritional inequality or cancer should not be fat shaming. @LindaBauld
Its hard not to agree with the above user. There is massive nutritional inequality and knowledge is saturated, almost like the fat consumed in most foods. There is a plethora of nutritional advice. It increasingly creates decision fatigue and option paralysis when it comes to where we start with very simple nutrition.
Large companies such as Coco-Cola, should be fined for their products which are laced with sugar.
Using Nutella is another product which is an extraordinary 58% sugar and yet it is a staple in some peoples diets, which leads towards higher rates of diabetes and obesity.
Products in a consumer society are disposable, however, our health is not disposable, we have one life. Companies prey upon our weaknesses and they can not get away with any longer.
In some senses, the buck continues to be passed from the consumer when it should be held at the front door of the production from the companies who are feeding nutritional suicide to individuals.
Food is an intrinsic part of peoples lives, providing jobs, nutrition and happiness. Whilst that happiness may work to the enrichment of individuals’ long-term health but also to their short term detriment. Companies must be held to account, even though, in capitalism, it all seems to be about supply and demand.
The consumers are addicts and sugar is one of the most desired on the palette of individuals. I do not believe CancerResearch UK intended to fat shame but as a matter of consequences, it crossed the line.
Obesity is on the rise and the government must do something about it, as well as the individuals who will inevitably suffer. Regardless of what we feel or think the world is changing and CancerResearch UK may be correct.
Healthy choices are far too expensive, and the higher calorie and food saturated with death are far more prolific in the UK. Hold the companies to account and I am sure we will see a decrease in obesity.
A new campaign by a leading cancer charity has come under scrutiny after the adverts liken obesity to smoking, despite new statistics revealing that obesity is now a leading cause of cancer.
According to the new statistics by Cancer Research UK, obese people outnumber those who smoke in the country by two to one.
The figures also reveal almost a third of adults are now obese, while smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable cancers, their analysis revealed that being obese trumps smoking in the cause of the deadly disease.
They state, there are over 1,400 more causes of kidney cancer than smoking each year, 1,900 more causes of bowel cancer, 460 of ovarian cancer and 180 of liver cancer.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Cancer Research UK, defended the campaign and said that, something needs to be done about the rise in obesity. “As smoking rates fall and obesity rates rise, we can clearly see the impact on a national health crisis when the Government puts policies in place – and when it puts its head in the sand.”
It is clear the charity did not mean to be malicious, they have used a previous campaign, which was successful, to highlight another cause of cancer and start another tough conversation.
Obesity is an increasing issue in society which cannot be pinned down to one factor. Causes of obesity can range from lack of exercise, to poverty and even social class.
Healthy foods and diets that can prevent obesity can be hard to come by and members of society cannot always afford to make these lifestyle decisions which can stop obesity.
There are various issues which need to be tackled before we start talking about obesity, or weight problems in general but obesity is usually the main focal point.
We need to look at the accessibility of fatty foods, the cost of nutritious foods such as fruit and vegetables, as well as households incomes for those mostly affected by obesity because this is an issue which mostly affects the most deprived families.
Amazon’s Alexa and the NHS will partner up to take on health related questions in a bid to ease the pressure off the NHS.
The technology assisted device will search NHS websites to answer medical questions, which is verified by professionals. This differs from the process before, where Alexa answered questions based on a variation of popular responses.
Its purpose is to help those with vision impairment, elderly and others who are unable to access internet to gain control of their healthcare. The Department of Health says is would empower patients by providing reliable information.
Amazon’s algorithm uses information from the NHS website to provide answers to questions such as: “Alexa, how do I treat a migraine?”; ‘Alexa, what are the symptoms of flu?’
Matt Hanock, health secretary said “Technology like this is a great example of how people can access reliable, world-leading NHS advice from the comfort of their home, reducing the pressure on our hardworking GPs and pharmacists.”
Every penny handed over to Jeff Bezos is money *not* spent on frontline care.
When we have 4.4 million patients on waiting lists, and 100k too few NHS staff. @MattHancock’s priorities here will cost patients dearly. https://t.co/ErxaAQD8mC
Using the voice assist technology has been on the rise and by 2020 it is expected that half of all searches are expected to be made by the device.
The number of people needing to see the GP are often told to go to A&E because they can’t get any appointments but are in need to see a practitioner.
However, the NHS does not have enough money to keep doing what it does e.g. treating the growing number of sick and often elderly people but the government plan reduce the demand of the NHS by doing more with less.
This is by stopping people getting sick the in the first instance, hoping to use technology that is already in people’s homes.
Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, hopes that combining technology with the healthcare system will cut the numbers of people heading to A&E.
In the grand scheme of things, there are few professionals that are sceptical of the data partnership.
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, welcomed the move but urged caution, saying: “This idea is certainly interesting and it has the potential to help some patients work out what kind of care they need before considering whether to seek face-to-face medical help, especially for minor ailments that rarely need a GP appointment, such as coughs and colds that can be safely treated at home.
The Alexa device, on a nightstand, is a popular device regardless of its capabilities to ‘diagnose’.
Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “Encouraging the public to give their private health details to one of the most aggressive corporate data guzzlers is astonishingly misguided.
“Amazon’s Alexa records what people say, stores recordings in data centres we know nothing about, and exploits our data for profit.
“This scheme will likely result in people being profiled and targeted by data brokers based on their deeply personal health concerns.
However, Amazon has said all data would be kept confidential and multiple layers of authentication would protect the data from UK customers and that all information would be encrypted.
The partnership is directed by NHSX which is new division bringing digital transformation to the health and social care industry.
Matthew Gould, chief executive of NHSX announced five main targets entailing reducing burden on staff, increasing NHS productivity, supporting improvements to patient safety, making sure clinical information is safely accessed across the system and ensuring people have access to information and services directly.
Dolline is a traveller, journalist and blogger who has palate to try new things. She is a very spontaneous person; you might find her skydiving over the Kenyan coast to kayaking in the Lake District. She can be an over thinker who thinks of every outcome but if she doesn’t she welcomes the change that wasn’t planned. However, she is a very simple person who is up for a good laugh or a book and enjoys living the moment. Dolline also writes for her small personal blog called ‘Swatches of Beauty’ and is currently a production journalist trainee at ITV Border.
Common Sense Network members attended the inaugural conference to Defend Media Freedom in London this week, organised by Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt. On Wednesday, one of the opening discussions shone a light on ownership and striking the balance between funding and control.
The panel discussion was chaired by Nishant Lalwani, Director of the Luminate Group within the Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm which has recently given financial backing to a host of media outlets. This set the tone for a really engaging delve into the critical nature of journalistic funding, analysed by a stellar panel.
Sonny Swe, Founder of Frontier magazine in Myanmar, spoke in detail about supporting independence and freedom, drawing on his own imprisonment between 2004-13 while Co Founder of The Myanmar Times. Director of the independent funding foundation Stichting Demacratie en Media (SDM), Nienke Venema was keen to highlight that for critical and fact driven journalism to thrive “we need more investors”.
The final panel member is something of a superstar in international journalism, so much that at one point Nienke Venema exclaimed how she felt privileged to be on the same panel as one of her heroes. As Chief Executive of Rappler in the Philippines, Maria Ressa has faced countless arrests and investigations over her criticism of the government. She has been labelled an ‘icon’ of media freedom and has now gained legal support from another conference attendee Amal Clooney.
Ressa and her new Allies (George Clooney, Amal Clooney and Maria Ressa) Source: Yahoo! Philippines
To kick off, all panellists agreed that Venema’s claim that journalism needs more investment to continue and progress in the 21st century. It is not that simple however, and the conversation soon turned to the questions of whether economic control inevitably means editorial control? Venema herself was quick to point out how this can be problematic from an editorial point of view, saying:
“If you go in that direction, I won’t be able to support you anymore because my board won’t support you.”
Nienke Venema, SDM Director
Coming across loud and clear was the message of how difficult it can be to toe the line between keeping investors happy, while exercising journalistic freedom. This responsibility ultimately lies in the integrity of the journalist and their respective publication, something Maria Ressa summed up perfectly in her closing remarks on this section.
“Journalists make critical calls that are bad for business, because that’s our job.”
Maria Ressa, CEO Rappler
Conversation then turned from investor control, to the regulation of media and exactly where this funding comes from. Foreign funding was a key point of contention, in ensuring we do not allow foreign forces to meddle in national jounalism. Sonny Swe explained in detail how the Chinese government pay for propaganda in Myanmar. Maria Ressa was once again called upon to speak here and did so by stating the ultimate solution is technology and collaboration, leaving ‘PPC obsession’ behind. She was especially passionate about working with and understanding the social media giant Facebook.
“No one can beat Facebook […] it’s about working together […] I’m not demonising them.”
Maria Ressa, CEO Rappler
It was two questions from the audience though, which provided some of the most intrigue. First from a Serbian reporter, who fundamentally disagreed with the title of the debate, explaining how ‘ownership’ has destroyed any media independence within various Eastern European states. The next question came from Ezra Levant of far-right Canadian political website Rebel News Media.
Levant was especially critical of the whole event, and made accusations that the whole conference could not stand for media freedom when it was supposedly funded by the Omidyar Group, for which Nishant Lalwani is a Director. He accused Ressa too of “being on the payroll”, but taking aim at Lalwani, the quote of the day was that his boss was a “left wing Rupert Murdoch.”
Ezra Levant Source: Tyler Anderson/National Post
Lalwani was at least given an opportunity to close the discussion after this, keenly summing up into three take home points. Media ownership does not have to be malicious or feared, but economic control can sometimes mean sacrificing editorial control, and foreign investment is to be treated with caution. An informative and truly fascinating 90 minutes, with four excellent speakers, but dominated by the immense presence Maria Ressa, who provided some fitting food for thought to end with.
“Look at the [media] world with fresh eyes. While I really loved the old world, it’s gone.”
Recently Scotland Yard Chief Commissioner Cressida Dick has insisted that the Metropolitan Police is no longer regarded as “institutionally racist”, which she believes is a label that is harmful. Believing it creates distrust within the public towards the police, inhibiting any intelligence, collaborations to aid the police in solving crime.
What’s even more inconsiderate is her claim regarding the Macpherson Report released 20 years ago following the death of Stephen Lawrence. Resulting in an inquiry into the entire police institution, due to proceedings into the investigation of Stephen Lawrence’s murder. The report commented on the Metropolitan Police stating the investigation was “marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership”.
The nature of Cressida Dick’s
comments is in poor taste calling for the public to change their opinions for an
institution that has failed many particularly those from deprived areas,
certain ethnic backgrounds; for which it has been ordered to protect and serve like
that of Stephen Lawrence.
Stephen Lawrence, Who Was Murdered In A Racially Motivated Attack- April 22, 1993
The policies in place while Cressida Dick has been Chief Commissioner point to now evidence of a “less racist” nor “reformed” police force. In the recent years the increased power to officers with the use of stop and search targeted predominately at black males, the death of many black males such as Rashan Charles and Edson Da Costa while in policy custody within London and around the UK. Personally, in the recent years the conduct of the police has not convinced me or much of London, to place genuine trust in a police force; which has deteriorated rapidly in the recent years. Inquests into BAME deaths within police custody also highlight a sickening insight within police conduct.
Edson da Costa (Left) and Rashan Charle (Right) Both Who Died In Police Custody
Cressida Dick frankly has a plenty to answer to, whilst being commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2017 and her overall involvement the Met in the previous decades.
So Cressida Dick just decided by herself that the Met police is no longer racist.
Just like that.
Regardless of the stats that show the disproportionate deaths of Black people while in police custody. Or the disproportionate force used during stop n search??
Her launching of Operation Trident in 2001 a scheme targeted at African-Caribbean communities to mitigate gun crime and homicides; which proved to be ineffective due to political interference and lack dedication specialism and focus.
Jean Charles de Menezes Who Was Wrongly Deemed As A Fugitive
The death of Jean Charles de Menezes following the London bombings, who was shot dead after being wrongly deemed a fugitive for the terrorist attack. Even more recently in social media, increased hostility towards police officers have been trending, highlighting the misconduct of police officers; with their over exertion of force and power. Whereby continued footage of police overexerting force over residents within BAME communities.
Is this the same Cressida Dick who ran an operation that ended with the execution of a Brazillian man because they mistook him for a suspect of South Asian heritage? https://t.co/UAPxQsCCeE
As of today, the comments made by the Met Chief Commissioner has brought much scrutiny to her creditability, and her general comments from the start of this year. Although the Metropolitan Police attempts to make strides to becoming an institution that the BAME community can trust but as off today we’re far from that point. But nevertheless, the bold claim of a reformed police force in the light of activities by officers and senior management, is rather questionable; and the commissioner has a lot to answer to.
Never forget Cressida Dick’s role in the absolute disaster that was the death of Jean Charles de Menezes after which she was promoted to lead the Met. https://t.co/7eO7HsekoY
Over the last two days, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), in association with the Canadian Government, has run the Global Conference for Media Freedom. Delegates from around the world have come together to discuss plurality of media, protection of journalists and general media freedom.
The conference ran in London on the 110th and 11th of July 2019
The conference, however, faced controversy for refusing to award accreditation to the Russian television news agency RT (formerly known as Russia Today). The FCO stated that this was due to RT’s “active role in spreading disinformation”. Critics of the decision argue that it is hypocritical to hold a conference on media freedom and yet bar representatives from a major news outlet. But a closer look at RT’s history will show that they are far from a beacon of free media.
What is RT?
RT was created in 2005 and since then its editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan has repeatedly referred to the network as a weapon. In a 2012 interview with Kommersant, she stated that the Russian taxpayer should look at RT in the same way it does the Ministry of Defence. In the same interview she said “there is no objectivity”. She repeatedly highlighted the role of Western media in propagating anti-Russian bias, saying that RT is Russia’s response to this bias.
According to the 2019 Freedom of the Press Index created by Reporters Without Borders, Russia is classed as a “difficult situation” – the second most oppressive category. It shares this classification with countries such as Myanmar, Belarus and Honduras.
Comparatively, the US ranks one step below as a ‘problematic situation’. The UK (along with Canada, South Korea and Ghana) ranks as satisfactory.
Are Reporters Without Borders biased or are we right to look upon RT as a tool of Russian state propaganda? Well, one only has to look across the border into Ukraine to see how RT’s output is beneficial to the Russian government.
Ukraine and Russian propaganda
In 2014, the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov was arrested and allegedly tortured due to his support for Ukraine’s ‘Maidan Revolution’. After a trial (in which the prosecution’s key witness recanted his testimony, claiming state harassment) Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Outcry came from filmmakers, human rights organisations and everyday citizens. In protest at his incarceration Sentsov went on hunger strike for an astonishing 145 days and, as of today, he has yet to be released. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Human Rights Chief Konstantin Dolgov rejected calls for Sentsov’s freedom, criticising what he called Ukrainian terrorism and American hypocrisy regarding its own detention of people without trial. RT referred to Sentsov as a ‘terrorist’ and claimed that his supporters in the West were “jumping on the bandwagon”.
Dr Sasha Dovzhyk, a Ukrainian academic at Birkbeck, has written and campaigned extensively on behalf of Sentsov. She said “he is so important for Ukrainian human rights activists, including myself: he speaks for all of the hostages of the Kremlin. He directs the spotlight away from himself and draws our attention to 100 people imprisoned in Russia and on the occupied territories of Ukraine.”
Crimean Tartars
Crimean Tartars have also suffered from the bias of RT. The more pop culture minded amongst us may recall Susana Jamaladinova’s (stage name Jamala) 2016 Eurovision entry which recalled the mass deportation of over 240,000 Crimean Tartars by Stalin’s government in 1944. An op-ed from RT decried the overtly political nature of the song, calling it ‘crude Russia-bashing‘. More recently Edem Bekirov, a Crimean Tartar who suffers from multiple serious illnesses and disabilities, has been refused treatment from the Russian government, contrary to the Russian Federation’s own legislation. Bekirov is supported in his fight for freedom by Amnesty International and the Russian annexation of Crimea has been condemned by over 100 countries. RT has yet to report on Bekirov’s detention.
LGBT lives in Russia
The situation for LGBT people in Russia has also drew international criticism. In 2013, Putin signed into federal law “for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values”. This law forbids the “promotion” of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” among minors and will call to mind the UK’s own Section 28, which was protested for many years by the LGBT community. Maksim Lapunov has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that he was arrested and tortured in Chechnya, simply for being gay. His lawyers state that Russian investigators have continued to ignore his please to investigate his imprisonment. RT has yet to report on Lapunov’s case, or the ‘purge’ of LGBT people in Chechnya.
Yawn: Putin, who has Russian journalists murdered and harassed, is upset because his fake news media has been banned from a #DefendMediaFreedom event. Russia doesn't defend media freedom, he restricts & crushes it. pic.twitter.com/76uG2ZLf9Y
As you walk through security to the conference, you are greeted by a quote from the late Anya Politkovskaya – pictured below. Politkovskaya was a vocal critic of Putin’s Russia, particularly her reporting on Russia’s war crimes in Chechnya during the Second War (1999-2005). On October 7th 2006 she was gunned down in her apartment in Moscow. Five men were eventually sentenced to between 12 years and life for her murder. However, it is still not known who arranged the assassination. Since 2001, 6 journalists from Novaya Gazeta, the newspaper which employed Politkovskaya, have been killed.
Quote from murdered journalist Anna Politkovskaya: “What matters is the information, not what you think about it”.
During the conference, Russia’s suppression of dissident voices (in particular that of Oleg Sentsov) has been criticised by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Amal Clooney at the #DefendMediaConference
The answer to a biased media is not to deny its bias, or deflect to the bias of other media outlets or governments. The answer is to confront it, highlight it. Many people will think the conference made a mistake in refusing accreditation but RT has consistently shown that it cannot be relied upon to report accurately or fairly. I can think of no greater insult to Politkovskaya’s legacy than to allow RT to a conference on free and open media reporting.
Last Friday, Tommy Robinson, the far-right extremist, was convicted of contempt of court. The anti-Islam activist has already been to jail three times. He faces up to two years in prison and the sentencing will take place tomorrow.
Judges ruled that Robinson interfered with the course of justice after broadcasting himself over Facebook Live “aggressively confronting and filming” defendants outside a child grooming court case in May 2018. Two senior judges ruled that this breached laws surrounding the recording of criminal proceedings, that are in place to ensure fair trials. Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Warby reached their decision after a two day hearing at the Old Bailey.
Tommy Robinson outside court (Source: The Independent)
Dame Victoria Sharp stated that the video “gave rise to a substantial risk that the course of justice in that case would be seriously impeded”, continuing “In our judgement, the respondent’s conduct in each of those respects amounted to a serious interference with the administration of justice.”
Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was imprisoned for 13 months last year after being found guilty of contempt of court on the day of the broadcast. He served two months in jail before the charge of contempt was overturned by the Court of Appeal in August of last year. The case was reopened in March 2019 after the Attorney General decided it was within public interest to bring new proceedings against Robinson.
Robinson, whose damaging Islamophobic views have gained him legions of followers, does “not believe he was breaching reporting restrictions when he broadcast footage on social media of defendants in a criminal trial while jurors were considering their verdict.” In a move typical of the English Defence League Founder, he is defending his actions as simply raising awareness of the issues surrounding child exploitation. Robinson believes the seriousness of the issue means that it should be made public. However, we are yet to see Robinson hanging around the trials of white defendants of similar crimes with the same publicising vigour, highlighting Robinson’s determination to demonise Islam. While the defendants were accused of abhorrent crimes, surely the illegally broadcasting of trials in this way should face punishment.
Protesters at a “Free Tommy” Demonstration last year (Source: Hope not Hate)
Social
Media and Justice
Due to the rapid way in which social media use has increased
over recent years, the law surrounding it is still being established. For
example, France have just passed a law this week against hate
speech online. Robinson used Facebook Live to broadcast his illicit
behaviour outside the court in 2018, which was only available for mainstream
use in March 2016. Although only Robinson’s followers would have been alerted
to the stream on Facebook, it managed to reach over 250,000 viewers.
In a strange twist of events, Robinson is now calling on Donald Trump to welcome him to the US as an asylum seeker. Robinson broadcast the video on InfoWars – the website run by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones which receives approximately 10 million monthly views. In the video, Robinson states that in England all that waits for him “death at the hands of an establishment who will feed me to Islamic gangs of Jihadis within the prison system.” He goes on to say that “the British state’s appeasement to Islam, the unrestricted waves of migrants into this country, means that they are deliberately persecuting and illegally imprisoning anyone who speaks out against their globalist agenda”. In appealing to Donald Trump for political asylum, Robinson seems to forget Trump’s clearly stated attitude towards immigrants as unwelcome. Furthermore, Robinson fails to recount when he entered the US illegally in 2013.
A cartoon in defence of Robinson (Source: YouTube)
Trump favours political debate through social channels, recently criticising Theresa May’s handling of Brexit over Twitter. Perhaps, therefore, he will be impressed by Robinson’s appeal. For now, the fate of Tommy Robinson will be decided at tomorrow’s trial.
I have been very critical about the way the U.K. and Prime Minister Theresa May handled Brexit. What a mess she and her representatives have created. I told her how it should be done, but she decided to go another way. I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well….
Looking back at my experience with being diagnosed with psychosis at the age of seventeen, in the middle of a A-Level crisis and the effects on my family particularly my mother from a Caribbean household was something that changed my perspective around mental health. From being hospitalised for 6 months in a adolescent’s unit, being forced to resist my A-Levels, to only just finishing my 1st year. Three years later having learnt and grown from that experience from a mental, physical and spiritual aspect; has motivated me to share my story to help and inspire others. I believe this chapter in my life has given me the freedom to discuss this complex and socially sensitive topic.
Let’s Talk About Mental Health
I want to focus on the stigmas around mental health within the BME communities and raise awareness to give people like me the confidence to talk about something important. Often, this subject has felt taboo or prohibited and is never talked about within our households and/or personal circles. Going through what I did, with my own mental health has now become part of my testimony and given me the confidence to encourage others going through a similar stage in their life.
What is Mental
Health
Hearing these two words often causes panic. for years now, this phrase has been attached to negative connotations. The World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of mental health, simply refers to it as ‘a state of well-being’.
That means we all have mental health, but the question to be raised is the state of one’s well-being. We can associate well-being to certain aspects pf ourselves, such as the physical, mental and spiritual parts of our beings. Of course the relationship to each of these will differ from person to person. For mental health to then be “good” or “poor” correlates to Marie Jahoda classification of Ideal Mental Health and likewise is included in WHO’s definition also. But is this not a high standard to live up to because we fail to do most of these at times. And we wouldn’t expect anyone to be demotivated or disheartened by not living up to this classification.
Marie Jahoda
Ultimately the point remains that everyone has “mental health”, and the negative stigma unfortunately stems from societies norms and values and more specifically the media and popular culture.
Mental Health
Amongst the Black Community
We’ve all at some point heard the term “mental health” and coming from an Afro-Caribbean background, this term came with a lot of stigma and often had negative connotations to it. More times than not, ‘mental health’ was associated with crazy, mad or disturbed.
Within the black community, hearing that an individual has been sectioned for psychosis or is taking anti-depressants, can often bring about feelings of shame, contempt or embarrassment. This shouldn’t be the response in supporting and helping that individual, but unfortunately today it is still often the most displayed response from the Afro-Caribbean community.
I spoke to Ama Blackson, a fellow undergraduate at Manchester University about her views on mental health. She emphasised the lack of seriousness amongst the black community regarding mental health and that responses from parents centred around the statements such as: “you should be praying more”, or “don’t you go to church?”, feeding the narrative that truly religious people don’t have issues with their mental health. These responses show the lack of empathy or understanding with an issue such as this. My own mother’s response was very similar prior to my psychotic episode, and now she uses me as a case study to encourage parents, to seek help from services such as CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services).
It’s amazing to see that even with the stigmas surrounding mental health in the black community, stats tend to show that“among the 5 broad ethnic groups, people in the Black ethnic group were the most likely to have been detained under the Mental Health Act in 2017/18 (commonly known as being ‘sectioned’), and people in the White ethnic group were the least likely to have been detained”, other stats show that black Caribbean people have the highest rate of detention of all ethnic groups for which ethnicity was recorded. While the high rate of detention and sectioning of black people by services could be a symptom of a broader institutional issues of over policing of black bodies, these stats could also highlight that within the black community mental health is a pressing issue and stigmas towards it, does not help the situation.
It’s also evident that mental health is something which black men struggle to talk about and open up to others about. It is easy to empathise. prior to my own psychotic episode, it was difficult for me to talk to friends about the ongoing situation for fear of being embarrassed or humiliated.
Others may also be going through a battle with their mindset or well-being but talking to others can help. Putting on a facade to hide your struggles and feelings in an effort to show your strength or toughness to those around you, in the end only prevents you from moving forward. The quote “a problem shared is a problem halved” applies, regardless if you’re the only male figure in the household who seems to be carrying the weight of a household on your shoulders, talking to someone about sharing the burden or just your thoughts can go a long way.
Stormzy is an example for black males to emulate, regardless of his image and statues in society is still humble enough to talk about his depression knowing full well it’ll be on social media moments later.
— RAMZ | THE MITCHAM DREAMER (@ramonerochester) May 24, 2019
Other artists such as Ramz (also known as Ramone Rochester) recently shared his experience of battling through a difficult moment in his life with depression and suicidal thoughts. He was thankful for having family and friends to share his thoughts with.
— RAMZ | THE MITCHAM DREAMER (@ramonerochester) May 28, 2019
We want the future to be filled with boldness, confidence and shamelessness and in order to do this my brothers everywhere need to speak about their worries, fears and tribulations; because it doesn’t make anyone less of a man to talk about their mental health.
Mental Health Support
The presence of many mental health support services throughout the UK, such as CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), EQUIP (Early Intervention) and Mind have further increased awareness of mental health wellbeing. Activities of celebrities and high profile individuals in further promoting awareness for mental health services have also encouraged people to seek help. While YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram or any other social media can be detrimental to our self-worth, it is a useful tool for providing support and encouragement for others.
In the hope of finding the next Stormzy, The Academy of Contemporary Music will host a rap degree.
The Academy of Contemporary Music at its campuses at the University of Birmingham, Guildford and Middlesex University, will allow students to gain a degree in rap.
Rapper ShaoDow
The rap course will be run ShaoDow a by professional, award-winning rapper
Kaine Clements, chief executive of ACM, said: “I could not be more proud of the team at ACM who have put together this incredible programme for lyricists, rappers, MCs and those of you who want to make beats.
“You know that you can really only get to where you want to be by collaborating. I cannot wait to see what happens next.”
The course will run for two years, or three with a foundation course for students who do not possess A-Levels. The degree will cost up to £11,000 per year.
This is £2,000 more than the £9,250 for many undergraduate degrees.
The government has said it will fund parts of the degree in certain circumstances. The degree has already become popular as there are “limited spaces” left.
Stormzy is the new Black British Icon
Last year Stormzy created a scholarship to encourage the admission of more black students to the top universities in the UK.
This has come after no black students got into some Cambridge University colleges between 2012 and 2016.
The Stormzy Scholarship will allow two successful Cambridge applicants every year to have their fees paid for by the scholarship.
They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but Stormzy proves he can strike twice directly and indirectly.
Stormzy launching the Cambridge scholarship
The rap degree and the Stormzy scholarship are stone throws in a racial pond littered with good intentions. The scholarship was branded racist by many.
In an article written by Mike Omoniyi “Is the Stormzy Scholarship Racist?”, it was deconstructed as to its supposed racism.
Stormzy has almost cemented himself a role model, an icon and a memoir in Black British music culture for many young black artists after being titled as “The first solo black artist at Glastonbury.”
Stormzy has climbed the ladder to achieve such a coveted event. He has been dubbed as an inspiration by many, however, he was not the first black solo artist at Glastonbury.
The first black artist at Glastonbury was a black woman called “Skin” from the Skunk Anansie band.
What started out a political tool of dissent, Rap is now being dragged into the space of government, where undoubtedly it will be restricted under the eyes of the government. From talks of banning drill, the table has dramatically turned.
Furthermore, rap has for a long time been viewed as a negative art form, whilst other music forms have been seen as acceptable. With a rap degree, will this make rap a more palatable art form?
Can rap be controlled and no longer allowed to exonerate death, sexism, and materialism, but that is what sells.
Back in 2018 Eric Benet spoke of this as he believed many rap artists are “black face for white supremacy and are being used to helped destroy your own people.”
Rap has characteristically become an art form now commercialised and profited by a new emerging middle-class consumption in the UK While the hip-hop music industry is predominately Black, studies consistently show that over 70% of its consumers are White shown in a 2005 paper by Janise Marie Blackshear (2005) “Understanding the white, mainstream appeal of hip-hop music is it a fad or is it the real thing?”
If rap music was not consumed by such a largely white middle-class base would this ever have become a degree?
Universities have slowly adopted a business model and much like the virtue signalling, companies have jumped on any and every social justice issue. The government are now adding to this through the guise of the university.
On the 19th June, the drill advocates came out to stop the shutting down of drill music where artists such as Krept and Konan spoke at parliament.
Krept and Konan at parliament far right Labour PARTY member Dianne Abbott
Black culture is an adored culture all over the world, with a strange pull factor, a lot of people are in love with the culture, but not the people. But they do not want the experience of being black in society as it comes with dire consequences.
Consequences ranging from being up to seven times more likely to be stopped by the police, more likely to be raised in single-parent households, less likely to be employed after graduation although there are more black people going to university.
Will this rap degree makes the students a more desired commodity in the ever closing job market? I doubt it. Will they omit the use of the N-word as well in attempts to censor racialised music?
The rap degree may take away from the stigma perhaps rap is associated with but will change the demographic that it primarily attracts. Perhaps instead of a new Stormzy, it could be a new Eminem.
