type here...
Home Blog Page 81

Aston Villa vs Fulham

Common Sense Contributors
-
0
Aston Villa vs Fulham

The Championship play-off final preview:

The most expensive game in the world of football is taking place at Wembley this weekend, and one team will be gifted the prize of £160million and also win a spot in the best league in the world, the Premier League. Both sides appear to be heading into the game full of confidence, with Villa boss Steve Bruce proudly claiming in his pre-match press conference that Villa’s preparation has been “absolutely ideal”.

In Bruce and Villa’s way stands the formidable free-flowing Fulham, whom have been urged by their boss, Slavisa Jokanovic to “cross the magic line” into the top-flight of English football.

Robert Snodgrass, the Villa winger on-loan from West Ham has lauded praise on Fulham striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, citing him as “they’re the biggest threat”, an opinion backed up by the stats, with the Serbian forward having netted 12 goals in 19 appearances since joining on-loan from Newcastle in January.

The meetings from this season resulted in a win for both sides, with Villa beating Fulham 2-1 at Villa Park and Fulham defeating the Villains 2-0 at Craven Cottage. From the 2-0 win for Fulham three months ago, Villa were on the receiving end of a dominant performance from The Cottagers.

(Courtesy of www.fulhamfc.com)

In the semi-finals both sides deservedly got to the final, with Villa defeating Middlesbrough 1-0 on aggregate, whilst Fulham defeated Derby County 2-1 on aggregate. The job for Villa was done in the first leg at the Riverside Stadium as a Mile Jedinak header in the first 15 minutes of the two-legged tie was enough to see them go through into the final.

The path was harder for Fulham, as they had lost their first leg at Pride Park through a Cameron Jerome header, with the Lilywhites having to overturn a goal deficit at Craven Cottage.They did so, with goals from  Championship player of the season Ryan Sessegnon and ex-Lokeren defender, Denis Odoi adding a second through a glancing header at the front post. Both teams are good enough to get to the Premier League, but there has to be a loser. It’s a cruel game but worth the accolades if you do win it, with Villa not have been in the top flight for two seasons, whereas Fulham haven’t been in the Premier League for four years.

Can we expect Fulham to come out of this tie victorious? Although Villa do possess the experience, Fulham possess the real talent out of the two sides.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1- 3 Fulham.

 

On His 200th Birthday, Would Karl Marx be Disappointed?

Common Sense Contributors
-
0
On His 200th Birthday, Would Karl Marx be Disappointed?

By Shafiq Kyazze.

As many celebrated the 200th birthday of Karl Marx, one of the leading philosophers of the 18th century, it’s fascinating to imagine if he’d still hold the same beliefs if he was still alive.

Even though many of his romantic theories have been proven wrong time and time again, it’s imperative to credit him for speaking out against many of the social ills that existed during his time such as worker’s rights, child labour and colonialism among others.

When Karl Marx wrote The Communist Manifesto and many of his other books, Europe had just come out of feudalism with most of the wealth still in the same hands of the few. This huge inequality and concentration of wealth amongst the few, whilst the majority of the population were toiling in factories, forced him to champion Marxism; a system where the government bans and takes over ownership of all property in the society with an intention of making things fair for everyone. It included sub-systems/stages such as socialism and communism..

Contrary to what he had hoped, giving the government such immense power to take over people’s property makes it greedier, more corrupt, tyrannical and is likely to infringe the rights of its citizens. We have only to look at the most compelling evidence being Communist Russia, China, Cuba, Venezuela and many other communist countries with more than 150 million people have lost their lives dues to Communism/Marxism.

Empty shelves, malnutrition, starvation and a shortage of food supplies have rocked Venezuela after the implementation of Karl Marx’s ideas.

Moreover, the very idea of banning individual ownership of private
property itself overlooks the fact that many would have to pay for the
irresponsibility of others. Put simply, in a society where no one owns
anything, people would become highly irresponsible since they don’t
directly face the ramifications of their actions.

This Weimaraner dog was abandoned in the rural town of Tacaringua de Mamporal, Miranda state, Venezuela. The dog is so starved and emaciated in so far as its bones are clearly visible

On Karl Marx’s 200th birthday, would he look at the evidence and concede defeat or would he repeat the same excuses his followers restate for his deeply flawed ideas?

 

Shafiq is a Chemical engineering student at The University of Manchester who has a keen interest in economics, history, politics, philosophy and social issues. He is also an avid Barcelona fan and is currently a writer at TCS network.

The Story Behind #JusticeforNoura

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Anthony Mba.

You may not be familiar with the name Noura Hussein but it is more likely that you have come across the #JusticeforNoura hashtag. Noura was sentenced to death on May 10, 2018 by a court in Omdurman, Sudan after being found guilty of murder for killing the man who raped her.

 

Barbaric is an understatement when describing Noura’s treatment. Noura, a Sudanese teenager had previously been married away by her family at the age of 16. A decision that violated her own agency as a individual; she sought refuge away from the forced marriage and fled to her aunt’s home. Three years passed and eventually she was tricked by her own family who convinced her to return under the false pretence that the wedding had been cancelled.

 

It was after this fact that her husband was able to isolate Noura, and with the help of his cousins to hold her down; raped her, scarring Noura and altering the course of her life form therein. After proving himself an enormous danger to her Noura responded by now carrying a knife, so she would be ready to defend herself on the next occasion that her husband made sexual advances. And when that day came it was that day that she fatally stabbed him.

 

Noura’s story serves as a sobering reminder that the freedoms we enjoy simply have no clemency in other parts of the world where the worldview is often archaic and on occasion, barbaric.

 

As if the indignity of sexual assault wasn’t enough, Noura has had to contend with a drawn out trial, with little visible support from her family. The news of her being sentenced to death caused an international outcry.

Human rights group demanding Noura be pardoned (Source: DailyTrust)

Noura herself has said: “It was a shocking moment when the judge convicted me with murder. I knew then that I [would] be executed, leaving my dreams unfulfilled.”

 

The impromptu awareness campaign kicked off on social media; hallmarked by the #JusticeforNoura hashtag that has inspired contributions from individuals, groups and famed supermodel Naomi Campbell who posted a picture of herself on twitter holding a placard bearing the now very recognisable hashtag.

 

If the response serves to prove anything, it is that what is happening to Noura is an affront to everything just and decent.

 

The story on the ground doesn’t seem to reflect that outrage, however. At the time of sentencing  her ex-husband’s family were said to be “clapping with joy” at the sentence, whilst Noura’s own family was absent from the proceedings, according to a trial witness. Of course Noura has her supporters but chillingly, the lawyer responsible for her defence and current ongoing appeal has been subjected to a campaign of intimidation by The National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) and even barred from holding a press conference regarding the case. At this stage a deliberate attempt by the state to suppress Noura’s voice smacks of an indirect admission of being in the wrong.

Naomi Campbell joins the trend to show her support (Source: Twitter)

Arguably, the ensuing outrage is indicative of two things. The first is virtue signalling; where is the outrage regarding all other cases of miscarriages of justice, not just abroad but also in wherever your home country is? Secondly, this may also be viewed as a case of Westerners who feel morally superior to those in the global south talking down on their justice systems and cultural beliefs.

 

Such arguments take away from the real matter at hand. Firstly some stories just capture the hearts and minds more than others, it may seem discriminatory but this is the nature of man and isn’t necessarily a bad thing if one case can be used to set a precedent. Secondly, and more importantly, regardless of cultural differences, there should simply be human rights that we hold as sacred. Regardless of your cultural background the judgment against Noura cannot be regarded as a just ruling and people across the world are right to fight it.

 

One can only hope that the fight amounts to something. This is a battle primarily for Noura and her legal team, they are on the frontline. The world’s support may amount to nothing in the end. Whatever does happen, let this case serve as an example for how we shouldn’t treat our fellow people, let the outrage produce change. It’s taken an extraordinary story to muster the reaction that it has but the tragic truth is that the events that led up to Noura’s predicament are all too common.

 

Anthony is a Contributor for TCS Scribe who specialises in African politics. He has a bachelor’s degree in politics and is an avid debater and weight lifter.

Twitter: @ac_mba

The Conflict in Syria: A Bloody Timeline of Events

Uwais Ilyas
-
2
The Conflict in Syria: A Bloody Timeline of Events

In February 2011, a slogan appeared on the walls of a school in Daraa, Syria: “Ash-shab yurid isqat an-nizam” (“The people want to bring down the regime”). The slogan was one of many written on the school wall by a group of teenagers. This act of civil disobedience led to arrests and torture of schoolchildren in Daraa. Protests followed, calling for the release of the boys, which led to a deadly cycle of violence between police and protesters. President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad responded swiftly to the skirmishes with military force, and by April 2011, Daraa was under full government control once again.

“It’s your turn, doctor.” One example of the graffiti scrawled by schoolchildren, which sparked the first arrests 

These words were to lead to a war that has led to the internal displacement of 6.1 million people (within the country) and create 5.6 million refugees. The war so far has left 1.5 million people with permanent disabilities and led to 350,000 deaths, in what has been described by Amnesty International as the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.

 “the worst humanitarian crisis of our time” (Amnesty International)

The Arab Spring

The words themselves carried special meaning in the middle-east. They were the words of revolution: the chant first used in mass demonstrations in Tunisia in December 2010. The demonstrations started in Tunisia after a young man, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after he had been forced to stop selling vegetables by officials. This was the beginning of what has since been termed the ‘Arab Spring’. The Arab Spring started in Tunisia, but the spark of unrest which led to the fall of the president and first democratic elections in the country inflamed revolutionaries all over the middle-east to follow suit. Tunisia was followed by Egypt, then by Libya, Yemen and eventually Syria.

“Ash-shab yurid isqat an-nizam” (“The people want to bring down the regime”)

The conflict in Syria has been in the media countless times since then and has been in the headlines most recently as the unsurprising flashpoint between Russia and America (and by association, their various allies on either side). The original revolutionary protests made by the teenagers in Daraa has spiralled into a proxy civil war between Russia and the USA and the emergence of several new global threats including ISIS. The region is now a kaleidoscope of enemy factions fighting for control daily.

Background to the conflict

In order to understand the original grievances of the teenagers of Daraa, one needs to understand the modern history of the state of Syria. In short:

1946: Syria achieved independence.

1964: The Ba’ath party seizes control of Syria in a Coup D’etat.

1970: General Hafez al- Assad seizes power, dubbing himself prime-minister and one year later President.

Ex-President Hafez-al Assad

During his time in office, Hafez- al Assad (Bashar al-Assad’s father) introduced a number of policies that funnelled wealth to powerful bureaucrats, the military and business connected to people in his government. His family were given positions of power and he gave himself the power to veto all government decisions. He also made sure multi-party elections could not take place- establishing and cementing his dictatorship.

If all of this were not reason enough for civil unrest, Hafez- al Assad was a member of a minority “Alawite” sect of Shia Islam and he ensured the Alawite community were given important government, military and state intelligence positions. This policy greatly angered those within the other (majority) sectarian communities: primarily the majority Sunni- Arabs.

Ethnic make-up of Syria:

Sunni Arabs: 65%

Kurds (non-arab) Sunnis: 8%

Alawite sect of Shia Islam: 13%

Christian: 10%

Druze and Turkmen: 3.2%

Enter Bashar Al-Assad in 2000: Hafez Al-Assad’s chosen successor after his death on 10 June 2000. The politically naïve Bashar was not his father’s first choice, however. First choice, Rifat Al-Assad (Hafez’s brother) attempted to seize control at the first sign of trouble and so was exiled when Hafez regained his health. Bashar’s older brother, Bassel was the next choice, but died in a car accident in 1994, and so, despite criticism from his allies, Hafez groomed his younger son Bashar for the presidency.

The hugely unpopular, Bashar al-Assad, successor to Hafez

Bashar, early in his presidency seemed to be more open to democracy than his father: allowing a free press to start to develop, giving amnesty to political prisoners and even allowing human rights organisations to come into being. But all signs of progress halted within a year and for the next ten years, Bashar ruled in his father’s style.

Since 1963, Syrians had lived under martial law, at the time of the Daraa protests, the education system was crumbling, infrastructure was poor and corruption was rife. Unemployment was intolerably high at 30%. Syria was a powder keg ready to explode; all that was needed was the spark of the Arab Spring. What followed after the Daraa protest was the beginning of one of the bloodiest civil wars in recent history:

 

A potted timeline of events following the Daraa protests:

[vtimeline id=”3869″]

Good News Friday Bulletin

Common Sense Contributors
-
0
Good News Friday Bulletin

Its Friday. You know the drill.

Every Friday we post Good News stories from around the world. Stories to cheer you up. Stories to make you smile. Stories to shake up the negative attitudes many newspapers feed us on a daily basis. Start your Friday right, with TCS Good News.

This weeks Good News bulletin features stories about growing food on trash, babies in lectures and a hero raising money.

Rubbish Food

All around the world, we are struggling with the amount of rubbish we create. Landfills and rubbish tips take up space that could be used for growing food, or housing people. One student from Texas, has solved the problem.  Joy Youwakim, an economics student has proven that we can safely grow food on top of inactive landfills. She started by using a a patch of land (200ft) in a closed landfill in Austin. Then she worked with her fellow students to grow crops such as radishes, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers and cantaloupe. All the food was then tested by the Food Safety Net Services and declared safe.

Joy Youwakim

This is a win for the world. If Youwakim were to include the rest of the landfill (around 390 acres of it), she would be able to grow food for over 8000 families. This could end the food crisis, with over 2million acres of unused landfill around the US, the amount of food that could be grown on this land is immeasurable.

 

Youwakim: “I was working at the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality one summer and struck up a conversation with an employee working in the landfill division,” she told the Good News Network. “When he showed me a picture of a closed landfill, I was so surprised to find that it looked more like a closed golf course than a pile of trash. I’ve always been passionate about food access, so I immediately began thinking about the possibilities of growing food on this space. I learned that landfills are typically located in low income areas, so I saw this as an opportunity to bring fresh produce to individuals living in food deserts as well as a way to sustain farmable land as our population grows and we continue to urbanize.”

Youwakim says it took just over 13 months of work with phone calls, and writing proposals, and cutting through all the red tape to get the necessary permits to conduct her experiment.

Baby in Lecture

Credit: Kelly Damphousse / Facebook

Being a parent is hard work. Especially if you are trying to study with it. Childcare is often expensive and can sometimes fall through. This is exactly what happened with one student, Kristen Black, at Arkansas State University. Black had called her professor, Bruce Johnson, to let him know that she wouldn’t be able to make the class because her childcare had fallen through. Johnson responded with telling her not to worry and to bring the chid to class with her.

Johnson “hope[s] that no parent ever feels like a classroom is an unfriendly place for their kids,”

A photo of Johnson holding the baby during class was posted on Facebook by Arkansas State University Chancellor Kelly Damphousse and has since gone viral.

“One of my Intro students sent me this pic of my colleague, Arkansas State University physics professor Bruce Johnson,” Damphousse posted. “She had a daycare conflict, so he told her to bring her baby to a study session. Then this happened”.

If only all professors around the world would be as kind and understanding as Johnson.

 

Hero Raises $238K

James Shaw Jr.

Back in April, James Shaw Jr. wrestled a man with a gun in a waffle shop and saved the lives of dozens of people. Unfortunately, the shooter ended up killing four people and wounding several others.

In an interview with WSMV, Shaw broke down thinking about the four people he couldn’t save and apologized to their families. His survivors guilt kicked in and he sought to help the families of the victims. Shaw created a GoFundMe page with a goal of $15,000. As of today Morning (Friday 11/05/2018), that GoFundMe page raised over $238,481. You can still give to the GoFundMe page

https://www.gofundme.com/5g07bvs

“I am overwhelmed,” Shaw said “To the thousands of people who have expressed their care, prayers and made financial donations, I can only respond by saying, ‘Thank you.‘ ”

He has since been featured on Ellen. Watch the interview below:

 

Do you have stories for our Good News Friday bulletin? Send them in to afshan@tcsnetwork.co.uk or you can tweet us at @tcsnetwork_ using the #TCSGoodNews hashtag.

Is there Sexism in Children’s Books?

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Dolline Mukui.

‘Little Miss’ books are being accused of sexism against girls. Emily Thornberry, shadow foreign secretary said Mr Men and Little Miss books imply that ‘women are less’.

If you have never read a Little Miss or Mr Men book, by way of a little understanding, in each book the characters have all been given a name which resonates with their dominant personality with the aim that each story will be able to convey a moral lesson to young children.

However, Emily Thornberry has recently pointed out that the ‘Little’ before the Miss inadvertently suggests that women are ‘less’ whereas Mr Men does not appear to demean a male. She said ‘If it was Miss, I don’t have any problem with being Miss Trouble.”

A university study found the stories portray the women to be less powerful and play up to gender stereotypes.

Last year, Little Miss Inventor was the newest character of the Mr Men and Little Miss book series which was created as a positive role model for girls. Illustrator and creator, Adam Hargreaves, wanted girls to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and math as both nation wide and globally there is only a small percentage of women working in these industries.

Little Miss Inventor (Credit LM)

But is it more than just creating a new character for girls to be inspired and go against the norm?

Earlier this year, The Observer conducted some research which showed that male characters are twice as likely to take leading roles in children’s picture books. Males, in the form of dangerous animals such as tigers, bears and dragons were typically embodied as powerful and wild characters, while the females were smaller and vulnerable creatures; the male character’s prey. So what does this image convey to girls?

A number of millennials have grown up reading books that depict traditional Western ideals of masculinity and femininity and from an early age we routinely learn to understand the characteristics that our biological sex suggests and somewhat determines we must display. As a consequence, when young girls aspire to become entrepreneurs, CEO’s and engineers etc. they seemingly don’t know how.

Credit: Random House Children’s Publishers

Bestselling children’s author and illustrator, Nick Sharratt said “Authors and illustrators have fantastic opportunities to break down stereotypes. We need to tackle these issues and at the moment it seems not enough is being done.”

It’s about time you girls start seeing female leads as characteristically bold, wise and strong.

 

Dolline is an MA Broadcast Journalism graduate and an ITV Breaking into News finalist. Currently, she is a voluntary co-host/contributor on a show called ‘A Chat with Elle Celeste’.

Twitter: @ceraz_x

Student Proof Underwear: The Eco-Friendly Undergarments That Can Go Weeks Without Washing

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Tanya Mwamuka.

As a lover of fashion and a student of science I’m constantly aware of new innovations coming from both industries. Both always surprise and amaze me but never did I ever think that that science would combine with fashion in such a strange, somewhat squeamish and definitely comical way. A Danish fashion brand, Organic Basics, have designed a new Eco-friendly underwear which according to them “doesn’t have to be washed for weeks”. Yes, you heard that right, weeks. Aimed at the Eco-conscious and suited to lazy students, the thought of weeks old underwear leaves me feeling more than a little queasy.

All jokes aside, Organic Basics’ motivation behind the design does have great benefits for the environment. With their “wash smarter” motto – reducing the amount of times you wash your clothes would lower water and electricity usage. For an extra reduction on your carbon footprint they suggest skipping the dryer. According to them, hanging your clothes in place of using the dryer for 6 months eliminates 300kg of house gas.

Courtesy of: Organic Basics

The underwear is made of GOTS (The Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton and SilverTech. This special fabric is treated with polygiene – a sustainable silver chloride which is supposed to regulate your temperature; helping reduce sweat to keep you fresh and odourless. Interestingly, NASA uses silver to purify their water in space.

Their new SilverTech line features socks, T-shirts and underwear all made from 100% recycled nylon. “Our nylon’s raw materials are sourced from post-industrial waste fibre, yarn from spinning factories, and waste from weaving mills”, they explained.

Courtesy of: Organic Basics

Organic Basics sets to change the way the fashion industry works as they explain the motives behind their designs. “We think that the fashion industry is a real dirty bastard, but fortunately, there’s a better way of doing things.”

The brand also boasts high ethical standards using only GOTS certified factories and cotton farms. They claim to visit these factories every three months to make sure there are no unfair, or unsafe industry practices. “Our factories in Turkey are also audited annually by a third party to ensure the standard is always set.” They added.

Courtesy of: Organic Basics

As someone who is also keen to change the rigid infrastructure of the fashion industry, I can only commend them for their works. Still, the thought of weeks old underwear still makes me squirm a bit and I can imagine it’s going to be an uphill battle before this product is accepted by the masses.

 

Tanya is currently studying Biomedical Sciences at the University of Manchester and hopes to get into science journalism and media after completing her degree. She loves fashion and travelling and enjoys learning new languages in her spare time. She is currently learning French.

Twitter: @thisnewoldthing

The Undisputed King : LeBron James

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

LeBron James probably the most recognizable athletes in the world is a household name, a global icon with fan following ranging from China in the east to obviously USA in the west. LeBron has carried the league being that “Megastar”, the best player for over ten years. What’s rather sad, is that his legacy as an all-time great, if the not ‘the greatest’, is primarily a  consequence of the intense, unforgiving media scrutiny and crucifixion of his public image. A phenomenon that been ongoing since the day he stepped onto the NBA court. One can say he brought it upon himself by choosing the number 23 and copying a familiar pre-game ritual, explicitly revealing his ambitions to emulate the legendary Michael Jordan.

 

 

He certainly faced lows with the biggest one coming against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA finals. Lebron was unable to crack Dallas’ stiff defensive efforts. The Mavericks had a great game plan that restricted the number of shots James took. Going up against Tyson Chandler in the paint, a combination of bad plays and him “shrinking in the fourth” saw him hit his “low”. This, of course, drew comparisons to Michael Jordan, who didn’t leave the team that drafted him to form his own super team in another market only to fall short to a team that had one All NBA player at the time and no all-stars. James did redeem himself time and again since then and also had his moments of glory before this. He took a no-name Cavaliers team to the NBA finals by defeating the fabled Detroit Pistons that was known for its defense in the early 2000’s up until 2008. He produced an all-time performance scoring the last 29 of 30 points for Cleveland. He also made the game-winning layup in a double-overtime win in Game 5. After that game, play-by-play announcer Marv Albert called the performance “one of the greatest moments in postseason history”, whilst commentator Steve Kerr described it as “Jordan-esque”.

 

The moment to look for is at the 1-minute mark.

Below is the original, Michael Jordan over rather ironically Cleveland’s Craig Ehlo.

This is fast forward a 11 years from the 2007 playoffs. Carmelo Anthony from the same class looks washed at Oklahoma, Dwayne Wade is doing bench duties for the Miami Heat. No one remains from that class barring the King- at the peak of his powers and one can arguably say, this is the best he has ever been since his first title with the Heat. He is smarter, added the 3-point shot, makes smarter plays by having more driving lanes beyond the arc, thereby spreading the floor even before the juggling at the arc. But above all of those is a defining quality witnessed in all those, who are in the debate for “GOAT”, its consistency and longevity.

LeBron James knows when to conserve his energy; when to make plays and factors all of it in each and every on-court decision he makes. The modern-day game is more intense than it was in the Jordan Era. In terms of stats, Lebron rivals and in many cases supersedes the performances of  Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant.  Although his defensive ability has subsided, everything else and it cannot be emphasized enough. He embodies the best qualities of Magic Johnson and more.

 

One thing is for sure, we will weep when he finally calls it a day, as he has truly impacted the modern-day game in an unprecedented way.

 

 

 

 

by Rutvik Bhaskar Perepa
Rutvik Bhaskar Perepa is a student at The University of Manchester working towards a MEng in Mechanical Engineering hoping to be on a placement after Year 3. He has had the privilege to travel around his home country, India and discover the rich heritage and diversity. His personal interests include Food and travel, history, Sport among many others. Often found in discourse on various issues ranging Engineering to Religious Practices, he never shy’s away from being expressive. He believes in being open minded, empathetic and analytical is the key to problems posed on a daily basis.

Local Elections: Labour v Conservatives ends in deadlock

Alex Davenport
-
0
Local Elections: Labour v Conservatives ends in deadlock

The reaction to the results of England’s local elections taking place last week was varied to say the least. According to some, Labour’s performance was excellent, and they routed the Conservatives in various battlegrounds across the country. Others have argued that it represented an excellent night for the Tories, holding off the Labour advance in key areas while winning some of their own. As is often the case with such things, the truth in this case lies somewhere in between.

Last week represented the first meaningful vote since the general election last June, in which Labour made unexpected progress and prevented the Conservatives from winning an overall majority. With that in mind, the context of Labour’s electoral advances formed much of the build-up to these elections. This was particularly true considering many of the wards being contested were in urban areas, where Labour is generally at its strongest and most popular.

At first glance, Labour appears to have benefitted from the elections, having gained 77 councillors to take their overall number to 2,350. The Conservatives, meanwhile lost 33 councillors, leaving them with a total of 1,332 on the night. Labour also won overall control of Plymouth council, one of its key targets, as well as becoming the largest single party in Tower Hamlets and Trafford councils. Many have also pointed to the fact that Labour put in its best performance in London since 1971 as evidence of its success.

Yet for all that, Labour did not make any overall gains in terms of the number of councils it controls, being set back by the substantial loss of Nuneaton council to the Conservatives as well as a failure to win many of its own target councils, including Swindon and Wandsworth. It was far from a terrible performance, as many would still be delighted with Labour’s progress considering the party’s worrying position little over a year ago, but it was also not the result of a party that would cruise to an overall majority in a general election.

https://twitter.com/alexnunns/status/992583608056647680

The Conservatives, meanwhile, may be immediately pleased, or at least relieved, with the local election results, having held off a Labour surge. Being in government at such a crucial time, though, with Brexit talks ongoing and ministerial scandals abounding, they do not appear to have the undisputed support of the country as a whole behind them. Strong and stable they are not.

Both parties have also been mired in controversies of late, with Labour’s leadership being accused of failing to tackle anti-Semitism in its ranks, while the Conservatives recently saw the resignation of Home Secretary Amber Rudd following the Windrush crisis. Neither will have helped their side’s election prospects.

Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd (Source: New Statesman)

At the same time, though, the deadlock highlighted by the local elections represents an opportunity for either party. With not much to separate the two in terms of popularity, it would not take a huge swing in public opinion to decisively shift the balance of power to one side or the other. If either Labour or the Tories can get their house in order while offering a clear message to voters, the opportunity is there to convincingly overtake the other. At a time when the government’s grip on power is fairly weak, and a general election could be around the corner at any time, taking the initiative could be crucial.

Jamie Oliver’s Junk Food Ban: a Way to Make the Poor Poorer

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

By Shafiq Kyazze.

After a recent study named Britain the most obese country in western Europe, pressure is mounting on Theresa May’s government to do something about the issue. Campaigners such as Jamie Oliver are calling on the government to clamp down on what they think is junk food as a way of reducing child obesity.

A letter recently written by Jamie Oliver to Theresa May included statements like “An end to ‘buy one get one free’ and other multi-buy junk food offers,” and “Reformation of junk food to reduce sugar, calories and fat”.

The definition of junk food itself isn’t clear and is quite subjective. For example, some people find cheese nutritious while others see it as a food with high salt and calories. In this instance however, it has been felt that ‘junk food’ is simply food the Upper class like Jamie Oliver don’t fancy eating.

The food being referred to as junk is mostly consumed by the poor. A proposal to ban food offers or impose junk food taxes will make food more expensive for the have-nots who are already suffering from low incomes. Such taxes end up taking a higher portion of low incomes than high incomes according to the Centre for Policy Studies.

Jamie Oliver, a renowned chef and restaurateur wrote a letter to Theresa May urging her to deal with child obesity. (Image Source: York Press)

So what should the government do about child obesity? Rather than banning food, children should be taught how to read nutrition labels on foods. “Teach them how to become more objective, and how to evaluate what is healthy and why certain foods are better for you than others,” according to Sara Dimerman, a psychologist in Thornhill, Ontario, who regularly sees children in her practice.

“Tight restriction and banning of certain foods doesn’t mean that a child will choose a healthy alternative,” Dimerman adds. In Ontario, Canada, programs like Farm to School Grants help kids learn about nutrition and participate in growing and cooking their own food.

In Japan, a country with some of the lowest obesity rates, schools have nutritionists and ensure that children are taught about food and lifestyle-related diseases and are encouraged to choose a traditional Japanese meal over fast food. Furthermore, kids at primary school level are encouraged to partake in food preparation process and serve school lunches to their counterparts.

(Image Source: Business Insider)

In Japan, beginning in elementary school, kids come to understand that what you put into your body matters a great deal in how you think and feel throughout the day — and how you go about your life.

In addition to this, children should be taught the benefits of exercising since lack of exercise is twice as likely to lead to death than obesity. Scientists recommend a 20-minute daily walk with a modest increase in exercise leading to health benefits as well as improving health consciousness.

In short, making food dearer doesn’t necessarily make people healthier, but what it definitely does is take more of their money and make them poorer. Nutritional education and exercise is what makes people healthier.

 

Shafiq is a Chemical engineering student at The University of Manchester. He has a strong background in philosophy and history having been exposed to such issues at a very young age. He has a strong interest in economics, history, politics, philosophy and social issues. Shafiq is also an avid Barcelona fan and is currently a writer for The Common Sense network.

 

 

The Biggest Innovations in Science Right Now

Common Sense Contributors
-
0
The Biggest Innovations in Science Right Now

by Tanya Mwamuka

As a biomedical science student I’m constantly made aware of the brilliance of the human form. So today I’m going to give you a quick run through of four recent innovations in science which are out of this world. Some a little scary, but nonetheless a show of just how ingenious humanity really is.  

 

Artificial womb

Lambs developed for up to four weeks: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 

The artificial womb allows the development of a foetus outside of a natural biological uterus. The womb, whilst somewhat simple looking is anything but. It consists of what seems to be amniotic fluid filled sack, providing nutrients and oxygen through connected tubes and cables which monitor the development of the organism. Though the idea has been theorised for many years it has now transitioned from a hypothetical to a reality. This was proved by the successful growth of a lamb foetus; kept alive in the uterus for 4 months.  Naturally this hot topic of controversy riddled with the usual accusations of ‘science has gone too far’. Despite this even I who battles internally with the ethics of my chosen study, cannot refute the plethora of benefits it could bring.  The development of the artificial womb is aimed primarily for medicinal purposes. It has the potential of increasing life expectancy for premature babies, and could soon be a replace surrogacy for couples who struggle to conceive ‘traditional’. While the dystopian image of rows upon rows of plastic bag grown babies does give a slight chill, I don’t think anyone can doubt just how amazing this innovation truly is.

 

Gravitational waves detected

The collision of two black holes— detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO— seen in this still from a computer simulation. (SXS)

I’m taking you back in time with this one. Billions of years ago two black holes merged together which caused a monumental ripple in the fabric of time and space. Scientists have recently detected this by using a instrument called a LIGO for the first time ever. This was something that physicist Albert Einstein had theorised but never had the chance to observe. And if you’re in any doubt of how significant this is, then take note that this innovation was the last year’s Nobel Prize in physics.

 

Gene editing of the human embryo

 

https://www.medicalfacts.nl/2018/02/19/wiskunde-verklaart-waarom-crispr-cas9-soms-het-verkeerde-dna-knipt/

The wave of controversy hits us again.  Geneticists from Oregon were able to successfully edit out a defect out of the DNA of a living human cell. Using CRISPR technology they were able to change the DNA of one cell embryos – repairing a disease which causes mutation. Due to the restriction on embryonic research – which enforces the termination of altered embryos at 14 days, the altered embryonic cells were not developed into humans. On one side it’s easy to be all for this technology, the potential eradication of genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, Huntington’s  and many more- it would be cruel not to help these sufferers. Then again how far is too far? What characteristics should be considered a ‘defect’? Who decides that what is a defect? Despite this let’s not take away from the science the use of CRSIPR in such a way is incredible, to be able to ‘cut’ away genes as easily as paper to scissors (granted on a molecular level) is just mind blowing. In terms of scientific technique, the use of CRISPR is so easy almost anyone could do it. You can even find CRSIPR kits sold online from websites such as sythengo.

 

Particle Physics meets the Ancient Egypt

Credit: Nature

 A previously unknown void in the Great Pyramid of Giza was recently discovered, and no not by archaeologists but by physicists. Using Moun detectors, researchers uncovered this void which may have stayed a secret otherwise. This is a perfect demonstration of two fields coming together to help to aid each other in discovery. This may very well be a technology used on regular basis to help archaeologists dig further into History.

Every day scientists make incredible discoveries, some by accident and some made by year upon years building on previous research. It truly is amazing what we can do as humans.

 

 

Tanya Mwamuka is currently studying Biomedical Sciences at the University of Manchester and hopes to get into science journalism and media after her degree. She is a lover of fashion and travelling and enjoys learning languages in her spare time. Right now she is learning French.

Formula 1: Up Next, Azerbaijan

Common Sense Contributors
-
0

Baku was considered “Boring”, “One dimensional” among others on various fan forums up until last year that is.

To summarize, the 2017 grand prix was one for the ages, the ensuing chaos which famously involved Vettel running into Hamilton behind the safety car ( caused by the stricken Torro Rosso of Daniel “Torpedo” Kyvat). The Force India’s colliding on the restart, which lead to the effective lead being taken by Daniel Ricciardo with what can only be called as a legendary overtaking move. The leaders Vettel had a penalty and Hamilton suffered an issue with his headrest forcing him to pit.

All of this was capped off by Valtteri Bottas who was last  after colliding with Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari in the opening laps. However, he managed to pip Lance Stroll to take the Chequered flag for second by 0.101s on the main straight.

Valtteri Bottas- Mercedes AMG Petronas passing Lance Stroll- Williams Martini Racing by going 36kmph faster with his DRS activated(Drag Reduction system meant to aid in overtaking, refer to open rear wing in the right).

As a result of this grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo established himself as one of the best in over-takers in Formula 1 and the most exciting star available on the market the following year. Lance Stroll answered his critics. This was very much a missed opportunity for pretty much the entire grid barring Sauber and McLaren( 10th with Pascal Wehrlein and 9th with Fernando Alonso).

Question is however, what does this years race promise to be? Considering that this season has started on a very high note illustrating the absolute competitive nature on F1. Here are some potential Questions.

Can Mercedes break their season duck and get back to winning ways?

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have started slow, none of the silver arrows made the top step of the podium and its already race four! However, they have made rostrum finishes in the past races and have been bogged down by bad luck/timing with respect to the safety cars. It remains to be seen if their dominant run since 2014 will come to an end. But it is certainly facing its closest challenge and they seem to relish it- at least according to the defending champion himself as he stated in Thursday’s press conference. Sebastian Vettel sits on the top chased by the two Mercedes, and Ricciardo with Kimi Raikkonen not far off and that brings us to the next question…

Kimi ‘Iceman’ Raikkonen is experiencing a resurgence in form. However, can he translate that into a much-needed win?

Kimi has long been a fan favourite; a competent communicator in terms of team radio and his straightforward answers during press conferences. And of course who can forget the ice cream situation. Its these combined with his driving style and the need for a responsive front end that really gets the man going. Since last year’s the final races, dating back to the United States Grand Prix, Raikkonen has finished on the podium in all but two races(Abu Dhabi-4th and Bahrain 2018 retired after a pitstop mishap). Noticeably, he has had the measure of his “number one option” teammate Sebastian Vettel from the get go at Australia even chasing Lewis Hamilton for the win. He has seemingly justified his pace by finishing 3rd in China just behind (under a second) the leading Mercedes and compatriot Bottas and in the process comprehensively outdrove Vettel considering Vettel’s issues . The big chunk of points from his teammates cushion and the momentum can always be seized by a set of consistent performances and victories (Kimi last stood on the top step at Australia 2013). That’s always going to be crucial, in addition to obviously capitalizing on opportunities.

Who will come out on top in F1’s tightest midfield in recent years…

The players are Renault, McLaren, Haas and Force India, who seemed to have found a temporary solution to the mechanical issue that saw their sidepod flow responsible for not sending enough air to the diffuser at the rear. Consequently, they were not able to generate downforce. Force India have had the measure so far and are desperately looking to get back up to speed having been quite off pace by their standards. Renault and the opportunistic Alonso with McLaren are within tenths of each other. Both of them are quite happy coming in to the weekend and seem to have understood track behaviour and their cars.

 Another wild race? Will we see another safety car?

Last year’s race cannot possibly be repeated, but the presence of street tracks and wider cars means anything is possible. One thing is for sure, a safety car seems likely considering we have witnessed a string of incidents and drivers struggling to keep their cars on track in qualifying.

 

by Rutvik Bhaskar Perepa
Rutvik Bhaskar Perepa is a student at The University of Manchester working towards a MEng in Mechanical Engineering hoping to be on a placement after Year 3. He has had the privilege to travel around his home country, India and discover the rich heritage and diversity. His personal interests include Food and travel, history, Sport among many others. Often found in discourse on various issues ranging Engineering to Religious Practices, he never shy’s away from being expressive. He believes in being open minded, empathetic and analytical is the key to problems posed on a daily basis.

Windrush scandal threatens to reach new levels

Alex Davenport
-
1
Windrush scandal threatens to reach new levels

The Home Office appears likely to remain mired in controversy for the foreseeable future, following reports that the scope of the Windrush scandal has extended beyond Caribbean-origin residents to those from other Commonwealth backgrounds. Cases are now being reported of people who came to the UK in the 1960s and 70s from countries as diverse as Canada, Kenya and India receiving similar treatment to their Windrush counterparts.

The scandal emerged with reports of long-term residents, many of whom arrived in the UK several decades ago on their parents’ passports, suddenly receiving threats from the government over their immigration status. The most extreme cases resulted in some being threatened with deportation, while others were faced with the prospect of losing their jobs, their accommodation or their NHS care. Many had not even been aware that they did not have full British citizenship until they were contacted by the Home Office.

Some of the first arrivals of the Windrush generation (Source: Getty Images)

Now experts are warning of the potential for the scale of the scandal to further multiply. Robert McNeil, the deputy director of the Migration Observatory, warned that this issue may not simply affect Caribbean citizens, but those who arrived in the country as children from across the Commonwealth. McNeil pointed out that “tens of thousands of people from other Commonwealth countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas and elsewhere may also be in the same boat – even if they did not arrive on the Windrush.” Already the case has come to light of Canadian woman Margaret O’Brien who, after 41 years of living in the UK, was told in 2015 she had no right to remain in the country and that her disability benefits had been suspended. Only after years of disputing this with the government, with the financial and emotional burden this incurred, was it finally confirmed that her residential status had a legal backing.

It is particularly important to note that many Commonwealth migrants, including the parents of many of the people currently threatened by the scandal, only came to the UK because they were specifically invited to by the UK government. At a time when the country had to embark on a programme of economic reconstruction following the Second World War, the British Nationality Act of 1948 granted all Commonwealth citizens free entry into Britain in order to make up for the labour shortage caused by the war. Many victims of the Windrush scandal appeared bemused that a government which had been so eager to welcome their parents now seemed equally eager to get rid of them.

We must also recognise the significance of the recent climate surrounding immigration to the current state of affairs. Rising anti-immigration sentiment in the UK in recent years has led to the adoption of particularly strict immigration policies, from which the Windrush crisis has grown. In particular, Theresa May’s creation of a ‘hostile environment’ for illegal migrants as Home Secretary has caused much of the hardship suffered by the Windrush generation, by making employers and landlords check people’s immigration credentials and documentation on a regular basis, threatening the livelihood of those who cannot provide such documentation regardless of how long they have been in the country. Despite the Windrush generation perhaps not being the type of immigrants May had in mind when introducing this policy, given their contributions to the economy and society over several decades, they have ended up suffering because of it.

 

Theresa May’s arguments for a ‘hostile environment’ as Home Secretary in 2013

The scandal has to raise questions of the ultimate expediency of hostile immigration laws, given that they can cause such chaos by affecting immigrants for whom such laws were not intended. This view in itself though, raises another question: can we draw a line on which immigrants deserve such persecution from the government and which should be protected at all costs?

1...808182...91Page 81 of 91

Editor Picks

Must Read

Hot Topics

About Us

Our mission is to make democracy healthier by creating spaces for people who disagree to have fruitful dialogue.

Contact us: hello@tcsnetwork.co.uk

Follow Us

© Copyright - Newspaper theme by tagDiv