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Plus Size Mannequins in Department Stores a Big Hit?

Shaun Flores
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Plus Size Mannequins in Department Stores a Big Hit?

Nike has now placed plus size mannequins in their stores in an attempt to reflect the diversity in body types in modern society.

These plus-size mannequins have also appeared in other major retailers such as Debenhams.

Finally paving the way for inclusivity, and celebrating a more realistic and attainable body type, this representation allows young girls and women to feel more at home whilst shopping.

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Plus size mannequins in Nike

Nike said in a press release:

“To celebrate the diversity and inclusivity of sport, the space will not just celebrate local elite and grassroots athletes through visual content, but also show Nike plus size and para-sport mannequins for the first time on a retail space.”

In a society deemed as “fatphobic”, one that promotes unrealistic body types, the plus size mannequins are aiming to bring about a change in how we view our world. The western world prioritises and exonerates ‘ultra-thinness’ as the ideal. We can now change from a skinny lens to a larger lense as we think more about the range of female body types.

In 2018 clothing brand Missguided also unveiled mannequins of different ethnicities as well as ones with stretch marks and vitiligo. Nike is not the first brand to use more realistic mannequins.

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Plus size Model Ashley Graham has paved the way for other plus sized models

The Social Justice Struggle

As millennials are uncovering social justice issues, Nike has proven itself to be an ethical, moral and empathetic company. The plus-sized mannequins are now becoming a long admirable list proving Nike’s contribution and commitment to the betterment of society.

From Colin Kaepernick protesting the American flag, in relation to the black lives lost, to Raheem Sterling and his racist encounters on and off the football pitch and the female struggles.

Nike remains a leading figurehead in the call for equality, however, this proliferation of the struggle comes at a cost. The cost being monetary gain to the capitalist companies. If the struggles were not profitable these companies would not bring it to their shops.

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Manchester City Footballer Raheem Sterling “Speaking up doesn’t always make life easier. But easy never changed anything.”

Issues surrounding body size have increasingly become higher in market value, and companies have latched onto what is currently making money.

The companies are bowing to consumer demands and social justice warriors who, at the swipe of their fingertips, are able to call out the illegitimacy of actions or lack there of, of these companies.

A Change in Tactic?

Once upon a time ago, companies did not speak outwardly about such issues, as it was not in their profit model. Now it has become a part of the profit model.

What has changed? The economic totem pole has swung in favour of those who call out social justice issues.

Monetizing social justice movements has proven to be an incredibly lucrative market. Even Caster Semenya has joined the new roster of athletes working with companies on socio-political hot topics.

https://twitter.com/caster800m?lang=en

Apathetic Companies Are Better

The Resistance of body shapes has been consequently transformed into another predictable and banal consumable, producing hypercommodified, augmented meanings far divorced from the original dissent. Said meanings are projected onto products and transformed into a fashion.

Once transformed into fashion, the political strength and social movements illustrate how late capitalism has rendered it meaningless through the ever-present commodification.

It is through this that Bell Hooks, argues that commodification depoliticizes and strips the political integrity and meaning, making it no longer possible to serve as a catalyst for concrete political action, as typical consumers may ignore political messages, said messages are reduced to catchy self-help slogans. This serves to continue the addictive illusion of a resistance that is proposed successful, all while the hegemonic control continues unabated.

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Bell Hooks, feminist thought leader, feminist icon and black activis

Companies that remain out of the realm of social justice issues perhaps are positive, as they remain true to the profit model. As opposed to companies who genuinely do not hold the truest sentiments of social justice movements.

Grass root movements such as the celebration of women’s differing body shapes must remain a grass root movement and not be swallowed up by the juggernaut machines who then (through the mainstream) control all narratives.

Business is business, perhaps businesses are moving into a more ethical and moral wave, let us see when the social justice issues no longer make a profit will they drop it as quickly as they picked it up?

#SudanMassacare

Benedicta Denteh
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#SudanMassacare

A man setting himself on fire in the streets of Tunisia ignited the spark of rebellion against oppressive regimes. Since then, protests against repressive and exploitative governments across the Arab world have continued to pull the attention from across the globe. Time and time again we are learning that citizens of the Arab world are not passive victims but active agents of their own emancipation.

Sudan is no different.

Our screens over the past couple weeks have been flooded with news and information about the current situation of Sudan.

What Happened?

Omar Al-Bashir, the dictator of Sudan since 1989 was finally overthrown after many economic hardships particularly during the last few years. Since December, the government has made many cuts to bread and fuel, allegedly stopped people from withdrawing money from their accounts and have been hiking up the price of food and other goods. Bread, to name one commodity, is now three times the price it was last year.

Following closely to the stepping down of Al-Bashir, people rejoiced at what seemed to be the start of something new. Feelings of freedom from a repressive regime encouraged singing amongst the masses and brought life to art expressing feelings of relief. The citizens of Sudan since then have been creating manifestos on women’s rights, media freedom and most importantly justice on a social and political level for all.

Sudan’s President was overthrown by the military council which promised to, gradually in two to three years, transition from the dictatorial state to a democracy whilst a new leader was being elected, thereby letting the country slowly come under civilian rule. This would allow time to disentangle the old government and the political network.

Broken Promises

However, after Bashir stepped down, then re-emerged the old politics of Sudan. It’s parties and personalities that were once oppressed under the dictatorship came back, wanting to be represented in the new nation.

Soon after these promises by the transitional government, the three-year agreement was scrapped and now new elections are due in 9 months. A former British ambassador suggests this election will pave way for old regime to be largely reintroduced as there hasn’t been enough time to properly introduce new ideologies into the government

This lead to peaceful revolutionary protests commencing around the capital.

And everything WAS peaceful. Until the 3rd of June.

What’s Going on Now?

RSF militia ‘janaweed’ (the military security forces) violently began attacking and shooting peaceful demonstrators outside their headquarters during the holy month of Ramadan.

Amnesty International has also enclosed that they have disturbing evidence and satellite imagery showing Sudanese government forces including the RSF and allied militias committing war crimes and violating the laws of International Human Rights. In the past two weeks the death toll has risen to more than 100 people with 650+ injured and several reported rapes.

In the attempt to conceal many deaths more than 40 bodies have been found in the Nile river and the government has admitted to at least 60 of the murders. In addition to this, 45 villages have already been partially destroyed

It has been a horrifying massacre to witness. And nobody knows when this will end.

https://twitter.com/Badawirules/status/1136267240062554112

The Problem

Putting aside the physical violation and merciless genocides is the fact that the citizens have been let down once again. Revolutionaries have been traumatised and many of them are now hiding out in order to be out of the path of the wrath of corrupt officials. Individualistically minded, the military elite’s priorities will always lie with power and privilege and because of this there is a deep sense of alienation from rulers.

And what is left is betrayal and blood.

Moreover, the Sudanese ‘government’ is still attempting to block out the internet and censor the media so that we can’t figure out all of what is going on.

But we know. And we need to show them that we know

What are we doing?

As of now many nations are doing nothing. This is very upsetting considering that Sudan was the first and only country to allow Syrian refugees in without the need of paperwork and treated them as part of the society. We have not, as of yet, seen any Arab state provide much support, although on the 14th of this month, Arab leaders have been seeking a diplomatic solution to the political crisis.

The African Union understandably has suspended Sudan’s membership with immediate effect but we still wait for them to intervene in some way to help the innocent and help stop these atrocities.

However, in order to raise awareness, we have been painting the internet blue.

Why are people turning their profile pictures blue?

Across all social media feeds such as Twitter and Instagram people have been turning their screens blue. This is in order to raise awareness about the crisis in Sudan and to show that we are listening and that we care.

We want the governments around the world to put as much energy into this as they did for “that empty building in France” (referral to the $1 billion governments raised for Notre Dame, which was damaged by fire a couple months back).

The blue is because Mohammed Hashim Mattar, a peaceful revolutionary was gunned down by the military last week. His favourite colour was indigo blue and ever since then it has become an emblem of pro-democracy.

There have also been many appeals to give money to the cause. Giving money to UNICEF, or save the children, contact local congresses and MPs. Signing petitions on Facebook campaign groups or change.org.

Change will not happen if we are not all active in this cause. We have proven that when we come together we can pull the attention of the world and inspire change

Because repression isn’t indefinite. And this isn’t the end of a revolution.

This is the beginning of an uprising.

French Open: Women’s Singles Wide Open as Big Names Miss Out

Fergus Macphee
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French Open: Women’s Singles Wide Open as Big Names Miss Out
As the competition heads in to the Quarter-finals, two of the biggest names in women’s tennis are nowhere to be seen. Johanna Konta meanwhile, has made the last 8 for the first time in her career.

With clay not being the favoured surface of many players, the French Open always has the potential to throw up a few surprises. Even the so-called ‘king of clay’ Rafael Nadal was famously dumped out of the tournament in 2009 to Robin Soderling. In this year’s women’s competition, both Serena Williams and current World No.1 Naomi Osaka exited the before the last 16. Without the top seed Osaka, could this be a chance for an unlikely hero to step forward?

Halep the favourite

While any of the remaining 8 women could stake their claim at Roland-Garros, it is difficult to look past the Romanian Simona Halep. She is attempting to win only her second Grand Slam, however her last win was this very competition a year ago. She is also the highest seed left at number 3 and has, on paper at least, the easiest draw in the Quarter-finals. Her opponent Amanda Anisimova is just 17 years of age, but has been one of the stars of the tournament. She will be looking to replicate Boris Becker’s infamous Wimbledon triumph at the same age.

The 17-year-old standing in Halep’s way Source: Jimme48/WTA Tennis

In context you would think that Halep will just have too much for her, but Anisimova’s straight set dismantling of Aliona Bolsova in the previous round gives Halep food for thought. This match is one not to be missed, between the returning champion and relative rookie looking forward to her first Quarter-final.

The case for Konta

British hopeful Johanna Konta will also be making her first Quarter-final appearance at Roland-Garros and was in a bullish mood yesterday. When asked whether she thought every competitor was beatable, she replied by saying “that’s been the growing mood for some time now”. Konta will certainly hope so, as she faces a tough test against last year’s runner-up Sloane Stephens.

A jubilant Konta into her first Paris Quarter-final
Source: Getty Images

Both players are more than capable on their day, but the American Stephens is the favourite here, especially coming off the back of a hugely impressive victory over Garbine Muguruza. If Konta plays to her full potential, she is certainly in with a chance of making just her third ever Grand Slam Semi-final. One always feels though that the main obstacle with Konta is a mental one. We’ve seen her form go up and down so much over the last couple of years. Which Jo Konta will show up on Tuesday?

Americans on the Rise

It sounds ridiculous to even suggest it with Serena’s dominance over the last 10 plus years, but American tennis at the highest level has hardly been in rude health during this period. If you think back through the decades there are American players like Evert, McEnroe, Jean King, Sampras, Seles and Roddick across the women’s and men’s game. Until the recent emergence of Naomi Osaka however, who else has really been challenging bar Serena for the last decade? Yet this year at Roland-Garros, with both Williams and Osaka crashing out early, this has curiously helped show how this trend is changing

Keys and Stephens after the US Open final in 2017. They also met in an ‘all American French Open Semi-final in 2018.
Source: EssentiallySports

All the way back in 2014 The Washington Post published an article titled ‘Next generation of American women’s tennis ready for take off’. In it they focused on seven under 25-year-olds who had made their way into the WTA top 100. Two of those mentioned: Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens are now vying to make the French Open Semi-final, along with the 17-year-old Anisimova. Add World No.1 Osaka back into that mix and that’s a formidable set of Americans making a name for themselves in women’s tennis. If the men’s game follows suit, could we be in for a new generation of overall dominance from across the pond?

Climate change: A step in the right direction as Britain goes without coal power since 1882

Common Sense Contributors
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Climate change: A step in the right direction as Britain goes without coal power since 1882

by Dolline Mukui

Since the industrial revolution began, Britain has produced enough power without the use of coal to sustain its self for the whole week. It marks the first coal-free week since the first coal plant opened in 1882 in London.

Renewable energy such as wind, solar, bioenergy and hydropower accounted for 25.5% of electricity in 2018, revealed from a government report.

The UK government has pledged to stop using coal power by 2025. Last year, coal power only accounted for 6% of power supplies while gas made up the majority of it with 43.9%.

National Grid Electricity System Operator director Fintan Sly has said “We believe that by 2025 we will be able to fully operate Great Britain’s electricity system with zero carbon.”

Over Easter bank holiday weekend Britain went five days without burning coal, and Mr Slye predicted coal-free runs would become the “new normal”.

Business and energy secretary, Greg Clark said “Going a week without coal for the first time since the industrial revolution is a huge leap forward in our world-leading efforts to reduce emissions, but we’re not stopping there.

“To combat climate change and seize on the opportunities of clean growth, we’re phasing out coal entirely by 2025 and building a cleaner, greener energy system.”

Climate change is now at the top of the agenda for the government figuring how to tackle it, whereby other countries are actively seeking ways to cut down and stop greenhouse gasses which are contributing to global warming.

Greenhouse gasses is a gas that can trap heat and absorbs infrared radiation which is released from the Earth’s surface and emitting it into back into the Earth’s atmosphere.

Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have called on European heads of state to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.

However, not all countries have agreed to this as early this year Germany, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic blocked a European Commission emissions reduction plan at an EU summit.

IPBES chairman Robert Watson “The health of the ecosystems on which we and other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever. We are eroding the very foundations of economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide,”

With only 12 years to make a difference, United Nations are also trying to push for more action on climate change, trying to reduce carbon emission to limit global warming to 1.5C According to the UN, the planet is will see 3-3.5C of warming. This could have a devastating impact on various communities in the world.

UN secretary-general António Guterres says “We are in a race for our lives, and we are losing. The window of opportunity is closing – we no longer have the luxury of time, and climate delay is almost as dangerous as climate denial.”

Greenpeace has also challenged the UK government to phase out diesel and petrol-fuelled cars, as Amsterdam has declared to ban them in 2030.

A spokeswoman for Green peace says “Getting rid of diesel and petrol cars and vans will be crucial both to tackle the climate emergency and to clean up our air, yet ministers have set a phase-out date for sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles that’s more than 20 years away. The government needs to bring that date forward to 2030 while also boosting public transport and investing more in walking and cycling infrastructure.”

Climate change is an ongoing debate in every country trying to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint before it’s too late.

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 is currently a production journalist trainee at ITV Border.

LGBT Lessons Row: What Happened To The Equality Act 2010?

Shaun Flores
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LGBT Lessons Row: What Happened To The Equality Act 2010?

Demonstrators of the ‘No Outsiders Programme’ at Anderton Primary School have been served with a high court injunction.

The parent demonstrators have been dealt a vital blow to their religious freedom. Arguing that they do not want their children to be taught the diversity of sexualities, gender and family structures. These parents have protested for weeks and it now will stop due to the injunction.

Birmingham City Council applied for the injunction following several weeks of protests outside Anderton Park Primary School in the city.

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My child my choice the banner says as Muslim parents continue to protest against the LGBT lessons

After weeks of protests, teachers in tears, and up to 600 children being removed from lessons, everything has now been put to a standstill. However, this could fuel the argument between Muslim values and British values. Whilst also putting a dent in the relationship between the Muslim community and the British state.

In a video that characterised the clash between Muslim values and British Values, MP Jess Phillips was embroiled in a furious argument outside Anderton Park against Shakeel Afsar, the man who is leading the LGBT protests. He has no children at the school.

Jess Phillips in her passionate words said

“You don’t get to pick and choose which equality you can and can’t have. I want to protect the Muslim community. You are damaging the reputation of a peaceful and loving community.”

Highlighting that equality is not something you can pick and choose Perhaps the removal of religion/belief from the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 should be proposed.

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The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against because of your religion or belief. Discrimination under these characteristics in the Equality Act is unlawful.

Where is the line is drawn between religion discrimination and discrimination of the LGBT community? How we protect both freedoms for both to coexist in harmony?

Religion is a core, fundamental belief in the hearts, minds and souls of many, however Western society has since advanced past states heavily dictated by religious conservatism. Religious conservatism once dictated the tempo of society, the rules, laws and practices. British Society has now interwoven different values allowing many other religions, ethnicities, genders and races to partially coexist.

The New Religion driving equality

Western society now has a new largely unspoken and unrecognised religion called Humanism.

A humanist…

  • trusts to the scientific method when it comes to understanding how the universe works and rejects the idea of the supernatural (and is, therefore, an atheist or agnostic)
  • makes their ethical decisions based on reason, empathy, and a concern for human beings and other sentient animals
  • believes that, in the absence of an afterlife and any discernible purpose to the universe, human beings can act to give their own lives meaning by seeking happiness in this life and helping others to do the same.
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Humanism is as old as humanity. From the first millennium BCE in ancient China, India, and Greece; through the scientific revolution and the enlightenment; to modern secularisation and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, humanist ideas have helped to shape the world in which we now live.

Humanism in the very same breath has accelerated the notion of ‘feelings over facts’ to which has become a centre ground for political thought.

Humanism is the New Religion, Religion Must Leave

Humanism comes at a dire clash with religious fundamentalism as highlighted with the issues surrounding the LGBT lessons at Anderton school.

For Muslim citizens, according to the Quran, they must obey the established authorities (e.g. the courts, the police, etc). They must obey the law of the land as long as it does not violate God’s law. Those protesting the LGBT lessons believe it is in direct violation with God’s law.

How can the rights of LGBT inclusion be maintained whilst working in accordance and reverence and respect to God’s law which is incredibly important to Muslims?

Shakeel Afsar, the man who is leading the LGBT protests has accused the school, government and state of “being intolerant towards Muslims”. No compromise has been found. Sitting on the fence will not help this issue either. Perhaps an intolerance to those who want intolerance, but are intolerance to the inclusion of others is a sacrifice that must be made.

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Islam remains an almost unspoken, unchartered water of discussion many are afraid to dip their toe into the water.

Whilst Islamophobic incidents skyrocketed by almost 600 per cent in Britain after the New Zealand terror attack. A frightening and very real reality, but when do we have the ability to criticise an ideology in the fear of being accused of Islamophobic? An ideology that has now challenged the equality and inclusion of the LGBT community? Is this how we want society to become? Protecting ideas stopping ideas from being truly explored in its entirety.

It’s time the government was no longer afraid to prioritise equality for all its citizens, not a ‘pick and mix’ for those communities who feel they are being denied their rights on the basis of cherry-picking what they want to adhere to.

Are the lessons Islamphobic?

Islamophobia is defined as being “rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

In 2018 The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims put forward the first working definition of Islamophobia in the UK.

In 2019 the definition was rejected by Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, who said it was “too broad as currently drafted, could cause confusion for officers enforcing it and could be used to challenge legitimate free speech on the historical or theological actions of Islamic states”. 

Whilst the issue with the school lessons is not about free speech, it is about freedom of expression.

‘Islamophobia’ is a word recurrently used now even when challenging the views of Islam, and the government could be accused of being ‘Islamophobic’ if they disregard the religious rights of Muslims in relation to the controversial ‘No Outsiders Programme’ championing LGBT inclusion.

This is where it has a thin line between a standing firm in the equality of all, but when the religious freedoms of one inherently oppress and deny the existence of others who wins? Everyone loses and nobody wins.

The headteacher and many other teachers who support the lessons at the school are accused of being ‘Islamophobic’, for not respecting their religious rights.

A morally bankrupt statement as the very programme challenging homophobia is being accused of intolerant to Muslims.

In the words of James Baldwin:

“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”

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James Baldwin, author, activist and black thought leader

It will not harm young children to know about the plethora of families in the UK, it’s the reality and to weaponize religion interchangeably to “pick and choose your equality”, is denying the equality of others. It also denies the existence of differing families apart from the nuclear family. The ranging sexualities and emerging genders making our current social fabric.

The more we think about where society is progressing to its a world of post-racial, post-gender, and post-truth is becoming the widely accepted norm. Religion whether it be fundamental Christianity or Islam needs to be revisited. Understanding and challenging the reasons as and why it remains in the Equality Act of 2010. And the government can not keep tiptoeing around the issue in the fear of being accused as “Islamophobic”.

To many of those protesting the law of the land in England, we live in a liberal humanist state with a Christian bedrock, advancing the equality of all individuals, black, white, gay, straight and more.

Religion and LGBT is a contested space that needs to be able to come to a working solution that allows both communities both religious and the LGBT community the freedoms to live equally free of discrimination, prejudice and bigotry.

However this time equality for LGBT trumps religion.

Everyone deserves equal rights, equal opportunity, equal access, but perhaps we have to accept some may not fall in alignment with Western humanist values outside of religious beliefs.

Love Island Race Row: Blackface Is Not acceptable and It Never Was.

Mellissa Dzinzi
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Love Island Race Row: Blackface Is Not acceptable and It Never Was.

Love Island has been a much-loved dating programme in the UK for the past few years however it’s has had a fair share of controversies. ITV bosses have come under fire for not having a diverse cast, promoting unrealistic body stands and not enough support to for former islanders once they’re out of the lavish villa based in Mallorca.

Days before the launch of the much-loved dating show, a picture of one of the contestants blacked-up in fancy dress as A-Team character, Mr T, surfaced.

Anton Danyluk from Airdrie, Scotland posed alongside his friends in the problematic outfit – assuming he was not trying to cause offence – but his picture shows the level of ignorance when it comes to race globally.

TV shows such as Love Island emphasise the issues around race in British society as many struggle to understand racism, especially from an ethnic minorities perspective.

The picture (above), in this case, can be seen as just ‘fun and games’ due to it being a costume but at who’s expense? Blackface is a topic which many black people have been speaking out about for decades. The complexity of the issue and the way in which it demonises and plays into racist stereotypes is not a new idea.

However, people in society are still convinced blackface is not a real thing and those offended are just pulling the race card despite the origin of the caricature. While it may have been acceptable 200 years ago for white actors to ‘black-up’ and promote harmful stereotypes, it was never okay.

The issue with ITV keeping someone on the show who ‘blacked up’ goes to show they are willing to ignore problematic characters behaviour as long as they can make money from them and do not care about the crowd they are neglecting.

Despite the broadcasters vow to be more diverse this year, this goes against that promise and is clear indicated they do not care.

Corbyn to speak at anti-Trump rally

Timi Awoniyi
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Corbyn to speak at anti-Trump rally

Labour announced that Jeremy Corbyn will be speaking at the anti-trump rally today in London.

Corbyn has long been a vocal critic of the US President and has notably refused to attend the royal banquet in his honour.

Corbyn has pointed towards the Presidents attack on Mayor Of London Sadiq Khan as one of the reasons as to why he is not attending the dinner.

Outgoing leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cables, has also indicated that he will not be attending the state dinner, refusing to allow himself to be “hobnobbing” with a “misogynist”

Vince Cable made his feelings towards the US President clear in his article for the Financial Times:

President Trump will not be the first or last nasty piece of work to enjoy a state visit, but he is among the most dangerous.

His attitudes to women and to race are abhorrent. And his crude protectionism has placed the world on the brink of trade war between the US and China, with an exposed Brexit Britain stuck in the crossfire. No amount of pomp, circumstance and royal regalia can disguise the fact that Mr Trump poses a real risk to the world, and to Britain.

Vince Cable, Financial Times

While Sadiq Khan has yet to respond to Trumps tweets regarding him, he today launched a campaign with Elle targeted at promoting Women’s Rights – which has been scaled back by state governments under Trump’s administration.

While many prominent MPs and poltical leaders chastise Trump, and the British Government for hosting him, Kate Hoey has been a prominent defender of the red carpet reception held for Trump.

She takes the view that as the democratically elected head of our closest ally, “he should be welcomed whether we agree with his views or not”.

Love Island ‘Cracks On’ Despite Plenty of Issues ‘On Paper’

Flora Barker
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Love Island ‘Cracks On’ Despite Plenty of Issues ‘On Paper’

Can Love Island really be deemed as harmless fun?

Love Island returns to our screens THIS MONDAY the 3rd of June (9pm, ITV2). If you’re anything like me, this date sparks joy in your heart. You (and a few million others) cannot even fathom that you’ve been gifted the show yet again – pure unadulterated fun! Sexy, hot singles gracing our screens for weeks on end, what could there be to complain about?

What makes our shared attitude so confusing, however, is whether the fun really is unadulterated. Love Island show cases exactly the type of people many of us lived in fear of at school; vain, conceited lookers dripping in self-confidence, are these the people we should be giving airtime to?

Aside from the characters on the show, the premise of ‘looking for love’ no longer just feels a bit silly, but is arguably now a downright lie. That is unless love can be found in post-exposure sponsored Instagram posts, exemplified by Georgia Steel recently outdoing herself with a promotional car air freshener post.

Most ‘couplings’ either split in a dramatic prosecco glass being thrown, or in a media splashed feud a few months after. All bar one of the smitten winning couples of the show have all ended up breaking up, only Series 2’s Cara and Nathan eventually reuniting after parenting a child together.

On the other hand, there are some couples that have gone the distance. 2017’s Camilla and Jamie, potentially the classiest couple formed on the show, are continuing their wholesome relationship by buying a new home this year.  Olivia and Alex of S2 are married. These are undeniable success stories and probably a pretty accurate statistical representation of how many relationships go the distance. Let’s be honest, most people form short lived and/or meaningless romances at some point in their youth.

Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow, who completes humanitarian work (Source: Heat Magazine)

Maybe our disapproval of the contestants really stems from jealousy. Comedian Romesh Raganathan has made this point before, stating “We don’t want Love Island to be popular because all the contestants are hot.” There is an assumption that contestants are vapid and unintelligent, when in actuality many have been successful in legitimate careers (yes, personal trainer does count) as doctors, engineers and even humanitarians. *Surprise surprise* people entering a highly watched reality show might want fame, and use the opportunity to form a minor celebrity career, instead of just seeking love. Our demeaning view of participants is perhaps just unfounded snobbery. Raganathan goes on to comment “It is always interesting to see what the cultural elite deem appropriate for consumption by the masses, while simultaneously dismissing the masses as savages”.

There are a few problems with the show which are impossible to brush aside. Tragically, Series 3’s Mike Thalassitis hanged himself earlier this year, aged just 26 years old. Critics argue that contestants are plunged into temporary fame without being equipped on how to deal with it, nor the financial peaks and troughs that will occur with such an unstable income.

Mike Thalassitis (Source: BBC)

 Previous contestant Sophie Gradon also committed suicide last year, after battling depression. The Guardian reports that “ITV has pledged to increase the level of support and advice it provides to Love Island contestants.” Fellow 2017 participants suggested that Thalassistis’s portrayal as an arrogant player on Love Island and Celebs Go Dating was inaccurate, Montana Brown giving a poignant interview on This Morning:

With the recent cancelling of The Jeremy Kyle Show following lack of mental health support similarly resulting in suicides, it is imperative that ITV make changes in their reality participants’ support to justify the continuation of Love Island on our screens.

In addition to the lack of mental health support, the lack of diversity on our screens is also highly problematic. It is something that ITV have made meagre attempts to address. New face in our 2019 batch of bidding love seekers Anna Vakili was falsely labelled as ‘plus size’ by Jameela Jamil, but on the whole the show reinforces traditional notions of beauty and body shape ideals. Creative director Richard Cowles counteracted criticism of this, telling The Radio Times, “it’s an entertainment show and it’s about people wanting to watch who you’ve got on screen falling in love with one another(…) Yes, we want to be as representative as possible but we also want them to be attracted to one another”.

Cowles’ excuse might seem feasible if we look at it from Raganathan’s perspective, but there is no excuse for the lack of racial diversity that 2019’s cohort looks no closer to solving. Last year, gal-dem social media editor Paula Akpan commented that racial diversity on Love Island is “severely lacking”. The show continues to tokenise BAME entrants, with many viewers finding Samira Mighty’s 2018 experience difficult to watch. The men she was interested did not seem to like her back, Habiba Katsha observing that “It would be simplistic to say that all the men who entered the villa didn’t find Samira attractive because she was black. But it would also be foolish to ignore how race plays a huge role in the dating world”.  Samira, a beautiful, witty and talented West End performer, suffered an experience of rejection which did not reflect her character, arguably down to race.

Samira Mighty (Source: Radio Times)

Georgia Steel labelled her type as ‘mixed race’ boys, her flippancy rightfully leading to discussions on what is appropriate in the way we describe race and desirability. If the main stars of a show about hot people are all white, this can only wrongly reinforce notions of  a racial hierarchy in beauty standards. Furthermore, there needs to be increased diversity to truly represent the cultural makeup of Britain; there has never been a woman of South Asian descent on the show, for example.

We cannot demonise a programme just because it showcases incredibly attractive people who embark on meaningless relationships. However, criticising the lack of racial inclusivity and mental health crises that reality television has contributed to is not only justified, but essential. I am excited to watch Love Island this Monday, but I will be disappointed if ITV does not pull through on its promises of increased diversity and mental health support.

Did the All English European Finals Live up to the Hype?

Thomas Kingsley
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Did the All English European Finals Live up to the Hype?

Chelsea were crowned Europa League champions earlier in the week and Liverpool were last night crowned champions of Europe for the sixth time after beating Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid.

The all English European finals, the first of it’s kind by a nation have now ended, but with Liverpool only managing three shots on target all game and Chelsea completely thrashing Arsenal, there’s a looming question of whether the Full English lived up to the hype.

A Premier League season to remember not reflected in the finals

This Premier League campaign was nothing short of a blockbuster with Manchester City and Liverpool trading blows until the very last day, City taking the title with only a single point. The battle for top four certainly lost it’s steam towards the end, but not it’s entertainment factor with relegated Cardiff City heaping more embarrassment on a struggling United side, beating them 2-0 at home on the last day.

Liverpool were toe-to-toe with Man City all season. Source: FourFourTwo

For all the drama of the Premier League, sports fans across the globe were expecting an exhilarating final filled with goals galore, upsets and all the rest. If the Champions League semi-finals were anything to go by ,can you blame them? Tottenham came from a goal down to beat Ajax 3-2 at home, Lucas Moura miraculously stroking in a last gasp shot to book Spurs a place in Madrid.

Liverpool also stole a comeback of their own much to the upset of former Reds, Luis Sanchez and Philippe Coutinho. Liverpool booked their place in the final with an emphatic 4-0 win against the Catalan Giants that shocked the world.

Suarez in shock after losing to his former club. Source: Irish Mirror

So what happened in the final?

There was no question of media hype around the Champions Final. The scene was set in Madrid’s Wanada Metropolitano Stadium: England stars in Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Dele Alli were all out rearing to go and fans were buzzing all around Madrid; Liverpool’s second minute penalty even gave all the signs of a box office final, but thereafter the game went flat.

Liverpool only managed three shots on target all game and Harry Kane in his first game since April, failed to make an impact for the Spurs. Tottenham struggled to give Liverpool any real trouble, with Van Dijk in stellar form once again to shut Tottenham out.

Harry Kane and Pochettino visibly upset after losing to Liverpool. Source: Evening Standard

Origi’s 87th minute goal did little more than add insult to injury for Tottenham. The comparatively stale final is the first where not a single card was shown, which speaks volume of the low intensity game the world witnessed last night.

Chelsea leave Arsenal without a response

The Europa League, unanimously recognised as the second tier tournament in European football, saw a lot more goals but was far from competitive. Arsenal capitulated after Chelsea’s first goal at 48 minutes, and it was all downhill from there.

The biggest highlight of that game was ironically off the pitch in Eden Hazard’s comments all but confirming his exit from Chelsea. Hazard told BT Sport after the game, “I think it is a goodbye, but in football you never know”.

What were the European Finals missing?

In the last five years, we’ve seen Spanish team dominate the Champions League, most prominently Real Madrid. We’re used to seeing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos inflicting searing heartbreak on opposition, much to the entertainment of football fans everywhere.

In last years final we saw Sergio Ramos ‘accidentally’ get in a tangle with Mo Salah that left the Egyptian unable to finish the game. Ramos was instantly made a villain and Real Madrid were out and out antagonists of a nail biting story line. Liverpool equalised from a goal down only to lose the game to a stunning goal from Gareth Bale and a horrible Loris Karius error. It was a final to remember filled with excitement, tears and good football.

Sergio Ramos’s suspicious tangle with Mo Salah. Source: Pedestrian.tv

This years finals did lack some of the level of drama and football quality that you get from the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus, but should that take away from the overall campaign performance of Liverpool and Tottenham?

Klopp finally sees gold

Klopp finally wins a trophy for Liverpool since joining in 2015 and after his Champions League final heartbreak last year and back in 2013 with Borussia Dortmund, this is a final that both Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp should be over the moon about despite their finals performance.

Klopp was seen grinning from ear to ear, hugging all of his players and staff whilst Liverpool players celebrated with fans, friends and family. There was also the absolute sheer emotion of the experience. Jordan Henderson was seen lovingly embracing his dad after the final whistle. You can see what this game meant for the Liverpool captain and his family.

Did the Full English live up to the hype?

The all English finals may have not lived up to the hype but both Liverpool and Tottenham gave us Champions League nights to remember in their respective semi-final legs. Eden Hazard may have had his last dance with the Blues and Jurgen Klopp finally comes good and delivers some silverware to Anfield – we’ll certainly look back and remember these moments from the first all English European Cup finals.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, did the finals live up to the hype? Follow The Common Sense Network for all the latest news and updates.

At What Cost have The Toronto Raptors Made History?

Jireh Antwi
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At What Cost have The Toronto Raptors Made History?

After making it to their first NBA Finals in franchise history, and now leading it 1-0, we discuss whether Raptors impulsive decision to trade DeMar DeRozan has actually paid off.

Did Masai’s impulsive bet pay off?

The NBA 2019 Final is now underway and Toronto are continuing to shock the world after taking a convincing 118-109 win against the Golden State Warriors in their NBA Finals debut. It is also Nick Nurse’s first trip to the Finals. What a historic run its been from a team only founded in 1995.

The manner and style of their wins have been entertaining, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round in a 7 game series winning the game with the shot seen around the world to going 2 games down in the conference finals against the heavily favourites Milwaukee Bucks and MVP candidate Giannis Atentetokumpo to beating them in 4 straight games. Which in itself is remarkable because the Bucks had only lot 2 games in a row in the regular season just once before this series.

The gamble that made it history

All eyes have fallen on the Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri. A year ago he made the trade possible for Toronto’s beloved DeMar DeRozan to go to the San Antontio Spurs receiving Kawhi Leonard in return who hadn’t played all last season due to what the doctors are calling a thigh concussion.

DeRozan was traded for Kawhi Leonard last off-season. Source: ClutchPoints

Many fans were upset at trading away their star player but not many could question the GM’s commitment to the vision as Kawhi is a much better player than DeRozan.

Whilst DeMar was bounced out of the first round in the players by the Denver Nuggets, Kawhi has managed to drag the formerly known Lebronto Raptors to an NBA Finals. There have been times where his teammates haven’t showed up like Kyle Lowry, Siakem and Gasol but Kawhi still managed to pull the team through or get them close. Truly, he’s the King of the North and is currently making Ujiri look like an absolute genius.

Will Kawhi commit long term?

The reason many thought this trade was impulsive is because Leonard will become a free agent this year, and there’s a good chance that he could be heading for the exit. Numerous sources have reported that Leonard, a Los Angeles native, is seeking a return to Tinsel Town with the possibility of joining The Clippers.

To add even more discomfort to the situation, reports have also stated that LeBron sat down with Kawhi during the Raptors series against Philadelphia, more than likely to recruit him to the Lakers.

It’s a bet that paid off if you asked the general NBA fan on first glance. Even if Kawhi leaves it will have been a very successful season for the Raptors which they cant deny. Drake would attest to that with the energetic output of his celebrations and showboating at courtside in the Scotiabank Arena.

Can Toronto pull off an upset?

Toronto currently lead the series 1-0, with help from an inspired Pascal Siakam who had 32 points on the night on 14/17 shooting. The Raptors have an entire nation behind them led by Drake, and if they can keep this same energy, they could really give The Warriors trouble.

Game 2 is on Monday night!

Sol Campbell and Lee Bowyer: What Became of the Unlikely Lads?

Fergus Macphee
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Sol Campbell and Lee Bowyer: What Became of the Unlikely Lads?

In their first ever managerial appointments, and with both facing testing circumstances off the pitch, Campbell and Bowyer are proving that sometimes the most unlikely figures can make great managers.

If you asked anyone the significance of the 2nd March 2014, or 2nd April nine years earlier, the majority would just stare back at you blankly. For Sol Campbell and Lee Bowyer however, these are arguably the two dates around which the public perception of their respective careers is formed. Campbell; a powerful and imposing central defender throughout his playing career was reduced to caricature by some, for his proclamation that if he was white he would have given the England captaincy for a decade. The legitimacy of this claim makes for interesting conversation, but the knee jerk reaction within much of the online football community was that Campbell was clutching at straws. Further bizarre comments have followed since and upon becoming Macclesfield Town manager back in November, Campbell had garnered a difficult reputation within footballing circles.

Bowyer meanwhile, while also a truly fantastic and underrated footballer, was involved in a whole host of controversies throughout his playing days. There is one however, that all these years later seems to stick in peoples’ minds more than some of his other worse offences (more on that later). Instead, what’s followed him his whole career was that unforgettable day at St James’ Park when Bowyer was sent off for an on-pitch fight with Kieron Dyer; his own team mate.

Always a volatile personality, Bowyer has brought this passion with him in managing Charlton Athletic, and by guiding them back to the Championship this season, he has added to Campbell’s equally outstanding first season as a manager. At the opposite end of the EFL, the ex-Arsenal man has done wonders to keep Macclesfield in the football league this season. Both Bowyer and Campbell’s achievements have come against an unwelcome back drop too.

Chaos breeds character?

Campbell’s achievements with Macclesfield must be tinged with an element of sadness, as he and the fans will know that the real work may not begin until next season. The club have faced considerable financial troubles throughout the year, paying players late on multiple occasions, with even Campbell himself facing two months without pay at one point. Set to appear back in front of a high court judge at the end of the season, this has been pushed back until 26 June, but you just feel it is delaying the inevitable. With this inevitable being a likely points deduction, Macclesfield could find themselves starting next season with a 12 point deficit.

Campbell’s final day celebrations. Source: BBC Sport

It must be a sickening feeling to know all their hard work could have been for nothing, especially considering the emotive way the players cancelled boycott plans this season through a ‘duty to supporters‘. Yet within all this turmoil, Campbell stood strong and somehow managed to keep the club in the Football League. He’s been praised for this yes, but he simply hasn’t been given the credit he deserves. Even taking the off-field troubles out of the equation, Macclesfield were cut 7 points adrift when he took over. By the final day they were 3 points safe. Added to that, Campbell showed a pragmatism beyond his level of experience in a managerial role. With his shrewd appointments of top level ex-pros Andy Cole and Shaun Goater, and with an emphasis on strong home form, he put everything you would want into a team fighting relegation. Yet besides a few congratulatory pieces, the media response has been rather subdued. He should be a candidate for LMA Manager of the Year.

For Bowyer, it’s been more of a rebuilding job than saving the club from the brink, but he’s had to face what can only be described as a farcical situation in the boardroom. Branded ‘the worst owner in the country‘, Roland Duchatelet’s reign at Charlton since 2014 has caused a number of fan protests. From not paying staff bonuses, to refusing to provide the youth teams with bottled water and even warning staff against eating crisps as he had scrapped the cleaning budget, it is fair to say Duchatelet is not a popular figure at the Valley. Fan protests have included throwing beach balls, plastic pigs and even packets of the aforementioned crisps on to the pitch.

The infamous pig protest
Source: Coventry Telegraph

Yet once  more, by some sort of footballing chaos theory, Bowyer has managed to get the best out of his players in his time there. He only even became permanent manager in September, meaning he still hasn’t managed a full season at the helm and yet has guided them back into the Championship for the first time in 4 years. Two young English managers then, outperforming expectations, all whilst shaking off their skewed reputations. Cause for raucous celebrations right? Well, not entirely.

Differing standards

One of a number of controversies
Source: BBC News

I said earlier that Bowyer’s career involved far greater misdemeanours than just his fight with Kieron Dyer. In 2001, he allegedly chased and assaulted an Asian man down a street in Leeds with a group of men including team mate Jonathan Woodgate. Although Bowyer was acquitted of any charges, Woodgate was charged with affray and another man received 6 years jail time for grievous bodily harm. Since this acquittal, Bowyer has publicly insisted “I’m no racist“, yet what some people forget is that this was not a standalone incident. Five years earlier, Bowyer was charged £4500 after an incident in a McDonald’s where he threw chairs at counter staff and said “I don’t want to be served by a Paki”.

People will say that this all happened a long time ago, that standards of public scrutiny are higher now, or that he may well be a reformed character, but that is not the point here. Bowyer’s route into management was via one coaching job offered up by ex-team mate Harry Kewell, before becoming Assistant Manager at Charlton and working his way up from there. Sol Campbell meanwhile, faced numerous rejections and even offered to work for free before finally being given a chance at the EFL’s bottom club; a decision which many fans took pleasure in ridiculing at the time. This is disconcerting on so many levels.

Bowyer has done a fantastic job, there is no argument to be had here and I am not going to start one now. What does it say about British society though when a white player with a track record of violence and racism can make the transition to manager so quickly, while a black man whose only crime is that he comes across as a bit of an arrogant oddball is forced to scrape the barrel? Campbell’s claim that he would have been captain if he was white still sticks in English footballing brains all these years later for the simple fact that it makes people feel uncomfortable. Maybe it’s time to admit that he had a point?

 

Is Australia Safe for Women?

Flora Barker
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Is Australia Safe for Women?

Violence against women in Australia continues to shock nation as homeless woman is murdered in Melbourne. 

The murder of a homeless woman in Melbourne has raised questions over women’s safety in Australia. 

25-year-old Courtney Herron had experienced both mental health and drug abuse problems. Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper stated that “she died as a result of a horrendous bashing – that’s the only way to describe it.” Her body was found by dog walkers on the morning of the 25thMay in Royal Park, in the suburban Parksville district. 

Courtney Herron (Source: Daily Mail) 

Henry Richard Hammond has faced court on Monday 27thMay charged with her murder. The 27-year-old man is homeless and has a past history of mental illness. 

Herron is the twentieth woman to have been murdered in Australia this so far this year, with young women frequently becoming targets of unfounded violence.Women in Melbourne seem to be particularly vulnerable, Herron being the fourth woman to be murdered in a public place in the city in the past 12 months. 

Shockingly, comedian Eurydice Dixon was raped and murdered in the same park last year, at just 22 years old. For many, Herron’s death signifies a wider problem of violence towards women in Australia. In a 2017 UN report, Dubravka Šimonović  wrote that “violence towards women is disturbingly common and continues to have a significant negative impact on women”.The increasing statistics of violence against women in Australia calls into question whether the ‘developed’ world is as close to gender equality as we are led to believe. 

Courtney Herron (Source: ABC)

The brutal nature of Herron’s death has sparked fear in women in Melbourne who feel there is nothing they can do to feel safe. Jenna Price, of Counting Dead Women Australia, told SBS News in this video that “Courtney Herron’s case is one many parts of the same picture of violence against women”. 

 

The Australian Minister for Women Marise Payne told ABC radio that “We have been only too tragically reminded in the last couple of days, again in Melbourne with the appalling murder of Courtney Herron, that the safety of women is something that must concern us all.” It is clear that further serious action needs to take place in Australia to put an end to continuing violent crime. 

Despite the terrible infliction of violence of this case, one positive can be drawn in the police handling of the homicide, which has been praised for criticising men’s attitudes towards women rather than shaming the victim. 

Victoria police assistant commissioner Luke Cornelius addressed media stating “Certainly there have been instances in our recent past where women have been attacked and they have been attacked by men. The key point is this is about men’s behaviour, it’s not about women’s behaviour.” 

Luke Cornelius (Source: SBS News)

It is refreshing for the police response to avoid blaming women for outfit choices, behaviours or lifestyles as has been common in previous rape cases. Cornelius went on to say “Women, and men, are absolutely entitled [to] and should feel safe to go about their normal day-to-day activities.” 

As a homeless woman, Courtney Herron found herself extremely vulnerable to violence. The unimaginable pain she must have suffered in the moments before her death were undeserved and inexcusable. A vigil will be held in her honour on Friday at Royal Park. 

Scotland Shows It’s EU Colours with SNP Landslide

Jyri L.R. Howie
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Scotland Shows It’s EU Colours with SNP Landslide

The SNP wins three out of 6 seats within the EU Parliament, after this years EU elections, with Alyn Smith, Aileen McLeod, and Christian Allard as SNP MEPs. After the collective Scottish council results were counted, the support for the SNP has risen from 29% in the 2014 EU elections to a whopping 37.7% this year.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon attends a polling place for the EU elections

This would be the party’s largest victory ever, with every council area except Orkney and the Shetland Islands having a majority vote in favour of the SNP. Noted that these two have been fans of the Liberal-Democrats party for a while.

Scotland’s Labour party, on the other hand, has lost the two seats they
initially held, due to no solid stance on the Brexit crisis. Falling from 26%
in 2014 to a measly 10%. Whereas the Brexit party, Liberal-Democrats and Conservatives each respectively attained a seat each. 

It is important to point out that the turnout for this election in Scotland was only 40%, however not all votes were truly counted, many EU citizens within the UK were denied the opportunity to vote, an outrage as a present EU nation.

Another point of interest is that this EU election has shown us that the classic two-party choices (Labour and the Conservatives) have been chucked out and people are starting to truly polarize when it comes to politics. Either by going to more pro-EU, left-leaning parties like the SNP, or being drawn to more anti-EU, right-leaning parties like the Brexit party. This also brings forth the possibility of more proportional representative politics in governance, giving the people more options in voting.

These results depict Scotland as Pro-EU in comparison to the victory the Brexit party achieved in England, with the Liberal-Democrats coming in second place, with Labour and the Conservative party falling behind badly. With Scotland being more for remaining in the European Union, and England being more pro-Brexit, this election has divided the two nations politically, and perhaps even literally with time.

Brexit is a closing door for the UK, with the EU being on one side, and Scotland is keeping their foot in the door, thanks to the SNP’s Pro-EU stance. With the SNP receiving a majority of the vote, Scotland shows us yet again that Brexit is not for them, with the first showing of this being the 62% remain vote in the 2016 EU Referendum.

Additionally, with a majority of Scotland’s Government being pro-independence and holding the most seats in the EU parliament, a second independence referendum may not seem too far away. Especially if a no-deal Brexit/hard Brexit comes to be, which will solidify the idea that the UK Government do not respect Scotland’s wishes. The percentage for a YES vote for independence would need to be above 50% however, which could very well be the case if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.  

For now, at least, Scotland has shown it is for Europe.

Why Cannes is Causing a Climate Catastrophe

Common Sense Contributors
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Why Cannes is Causing a Climate Catastrophe

by Hajra Tahir

The recent extinction of the Blue Spix Macaw is a jarring reminder of the detrimental consequences of climate change. In 2015 Greenhouse Gas emissions from textile productions alone, produced an extortionate 1.2 billion tonnes of Carbon Dioxide. China’s target of reducing emissions from the textile industry by 1651 million tonnes (in order to cut the production of greenhouse gases per unit of GDP by 2020), has proven futile in countervailing global warming, and has since added to these numbers. It is not difficult therefore, to form a link between the fashion industry and the deterioration of our planet. However the discussion can be further extended by considering how the vogue for ‘speedy style’ originates from the rolling hills of Hollywood itself. The most recent examples of this are the Cannes Film Festival and the Met Gala. 

The Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival, is an exclusive 2 week affair in which films from all genres as well as documentaries are previewed on the French Riviera, South- East France. The Met Gala, similarly exclusive, is a themed costume ball held annually on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. Both events host the most sought after stars on the planet who showcase their designer gear on the red carpet. Although it is difficult to see how these two events are linked to the environmental damage we are experiencing today, their underlying effects on retailers and fashion businesses around the world can help explain the matter. 

The above image is of Ariana Grande at last year’s Met sporting a silk organza Ball gown designed by Vera Wang, depicting Michelangelo’s ‘The last Judgement’ painting as seen in the Sistine Chapel altar wall. A mouthful to say but a delight to look at, I’m sure most of us (myself included) can’t help but gush over this extravagant fit. That being said, it is responses such as these that encourage our high street retailers to emulate said designs and make them affordable for the everyday consumer.

The image above is a suspiciously similar more casual rendition of the cherub-inspired garment, that is now available literally everywhere. The use of social media has further enhanced the Hollywood influence as online platforms such as Instagram, Youtube and Twitter make coverage of these annual jamborees more accessible and interactive. 

People have taken to social media to express opinions and engage with the most talked of events of the year.

Our insatiable demand for new clothing and designs, is derived from unconsciously being influenced by the stars on the big screen. This is obviously not a ground breaking conclusion – for decades now the entertainment industry has been a major contributor to fluctuating trends. However, the underlying issue revolves around the sheer amount of damage our unending consumerism is causing. Fashion, a dispensable luxury, is amongst Petroleum, Mineral Transformation, Transport and Agriculture as one of the most prominent suppliers of surplus Greenhouse emissions. Whilst sustainable alternatives are being researched and introduced for the latter, it is unclear how we can temper the effects of the fashion industry on our planet. Perhaps this lack of initiative is due to our own jaded disposition as passive consumers – who show little to no rage at the deteriorating condition of our Earth when it comes to foregoing our entrenched interests in pop culture. Equally, lack of sustainability in the industry may also stem from a deficit of ideas when it comes to transforming the very nature of an inherently unsustainable business. 

The ‘out with the old, in with the new’ mentality is very much inspired by our incessant interest in ongoing trends that have Hollywood origins. Exactly how much damage this is causing is nicely summarised in the video below. 

As well as influencing the pace at which textile industries pump out Hollywood inspired clothing, those attending events such as the Met Gala are notoriously high maintenance. The tweet below is just one radical example of this. 

To contextualise this, the average private jet burns more greenhouse gases in a single trip than the average American does in a whole year. But at least there is solace in knowing that Kim was able to complete her latex couture look with her press on plastic nails. 

The Cannes Film Fare Festival is no better. 1200 additional tonnes of waste is deposited into French landfill throughout the duration of the festival, not including the 200 x 2 metre red carpet that is changed 3 times a day throughout the duration of the 2 weeks. Star studded Hollywood personalities adorned in their unethically sourced designer garments also triple the carbon footprint of the area when the festival is in operation. This is mostly due to the inordinate consumption of vast amounts of fuel by SUVs, Sedans, Rolls Royces and Limousine escorts hat Chauffeur the stars to the venue – adding to the grandeur of their fashionable entrances to the festival. An insight into the aftermath of all this is shown in the below video. 

The influence of Hollywood on fashion is causing a major disturbance to ecosystems around the planet and somehow needs to be countered in the upcoming years to stop the impending climate catastrophe. Ways of making landmark events such as Cannes and the Met sustainable in their capacity should also be implemented – if anything, an ethical example needs to be set for the millions that are closely following the coverage. 

Hajra is in the first year of her undergraduate Law with Politics degree at the University of Manchester. With an interest in international relations, literature and travelling she aims to hopefully supplement her future career as a city lawyer with pro-bono work and an involvement in civil and human rights.

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