Dear Harry,
We were rather disappointed with the deprecating comments that you made towards left-wing women that were printed in Student 23/9/08.
We do wonder how can one advocate that ‘Life is better under a Conservative’ with the superficial reasons that you gave to support the statement and through your encouragement of sexual exploitation and the objectification of women.
To encourage an advertisement that alludes to women being subordinated sexually by men with the tagline that ‘Life is better under a Conservative’, not ‘under the Conservatives’ is extremely shocking. It is not a poster that is promoting a better life for modern women, but as a means to con women into accepting a secondary place to men.
Life is not better ‘under a Conservative’ and we much prefer the ‘woman on top’. You should try it; you might even like it.
With kindest regards,
Women of the World.
Sunday 2 November 2008
Last Shadow Puppets Preview-unpublished.
The Last Shadow Puppets, Domino Records. Five Star *****
UNREQUITED LOVE, poignant orchestration and the most sought after man in modern music. What more could one want in a gig? Finally, the anticipation is over with Alex Turner's decision to take his 60s quintessential side project, The Last Shadow Puppets, to the road.
The Arctic Monkey's lead singer and his sidekick Miles Kane, from the Liverpudlian band The Rascals, took the current music scene to new levels with their inventive debut album The Age of the Understatement. Their duet recollects the music of the 1960s and aspires to the likes of Scott Walker and early Bowie.
The Last Shadow Puppets played Leeds and Reading Festival 2008 prior to their first U.K. tour in a bid to get some live practice. They entered to mud-filled stage suited and booted, reminiscing the 60's glamour both visually as well as audibly, with their entourage of a full orchestra from the London Metropolitan Orchestra. Unfortunately, this glamour and culture was not enough to take the mud encrusted, wellie-cladded crowd back to the 1960's, but expect a certain nostalgia once the boys enrapture their audience at Glasgow's Carling Academy.
For those who are afraid of being enclosed in a small space with teenage Arctic Monkey fans. Don't be. The Last Shadow Puppets are worlds away from Turner's claim to fame. Turner musically diverges, displaying a previously unknown affinity to the ballad form. He contemplates the fragility of love instead of how he and his mates are going to sneak past the bouncers into a grotty Sheffield club. Turner yearns for another era by opting for an acoustic guitar and tambourine in place of his electric Fender Stratocaster. This produces an antiquated feeling, but with an edge. That edge being Turner's charisma and Kane's trademark guitar distortion.
Killer tracks, "Standing Next To Me" and the dark "Separate and Ever Deadly", will blown your mind once heard live. The allure between Turner and Kane as well as the power of the grand orchestration and the hypnotic melody of the tuba takes the album tracks to new heights.
The Last Shadow Puppets’ tour is an apt opportunity to see both Turner and Kane at their best, playing the most ambitious and awe-inspiring music of modern times.
UNREQUITED LOVE, poignant orchestration and the most sought after man in modern music. What more could one want in a gig? Finally, the anticipation is over with Alex Turner's decision to take his 60s quintessential side project, The Last Shadow Puppets, to the road.
The Arctic Monkey's lead singer and his sidekick Miles Kane, from the Liverpudlian band The Rascals, took the current music scene to new levels with their inventive debut album The Age of the Understatement. Their duet recollects the music of the 1960s and aspires to the likes of Scott Walker and early Bowie.
The Last Shadow Puppets played Leeds and Reading Festival 2008 prior to their first U.K. tour in a bid to get some live practice. They entered to mud-filled stage suited and booted, reminiscing the 60's glamour both visually as well as audibly, with their entourage of a full orchestra from the London Metropolitan Orchestra. Unfortunately, this glamour and culture was not enough to take the mud encrusted, wellie-cladded crowd back to the 1960's, but expect a certain nostalgia once the boys enrapture their audience at Glasgow's Carling Academy.
For those who are afraid of being enclosed in a small space with teenage Arctic Monkey fans. Don't be. The Last Shadow Puppets are worlds away from Turner's claim to fame. Turner musically diverges, displaying a previously unknown affinity to the ballad form. He contemplates the fragility of love instead of how he and his mates are going to sneak past the bouncers into a grotty Sheffield club. Turner yearns for another era by opting for an acoustic guitar and tambourine in place of his electric Fender Stratocaster. This produces an antiquated feeling, but with an edge. That edge being Turner's charisma and Kane's trademark guitar distortion.
Killer tracks, "Standing Next To Me" and the dark "Separate and Ever Deadly", will blown your mind once heard live. The allure between Turner and Kane as well as the power of the grand orchestration and the hypnotic melody of the tuba takes the album tracks to new heights.
The Last Shadow Puppets’ tour is an apt opportunity to see both Turner and Kane at their best, playing the most ambitious and awe-inspiring music of modern times.
Tram line chaos-published in Student 14/10/2008.
EDINBURGH’S RECENT tram development is set to cause further chaos with Princes Street , Edinburgh’s main retail street, set to close for six months.
MSPs unanimously voted for the Edinburgh Tram Bill in March 2006, claiming that the tram line would decrease inner city congestion, entice tourists to visit the city, help local business to thrive and would be also be a more eco-friendly form of transport than travelling by car or bus. Work began on the £512 million public transport investment in March 2008.
Edinburgh has seen problems already beginning to rise in the early stages of the estimated three year project. There has been an increase in traffic congestion with Leith Walk and, most recently, Princes Street reduced to one lane.
Local businesses have claimed that their trade has declined by approximately 25% since the tram work began. The government has offered all independent businesses a £4,000 compensation grant, however this is not covering the extreme losses that businesses are facing.
Tram developers, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE), are planning to fully close Princes Street from January to July 2009 in an attempt to keep the project on track in the hope of meeting the 2011 deadline. This has provoked outrage from shop owners and commuters with the problems already caused by the tram work set to escalate.
It is expected that the complete closure of Princes Street will result in rocketing congestion with all traffic being diverted to George Street. As well as excessive congestion, University of Edinburgh students can also expect irregular bus routes to and from their part-time jobs. The result of the tram work is going to increase commuting time for all inner city workers.
It seems that the Edinburgh trams are creating more problems than the line is set to solve. The tram service will only operate a limited line from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, Leith. Therefore the trams will not be a solution for those who live outside of the city who continue to face limited public transport into the centre.
MSPs unanimously voted for the Edinburgh Tram Bill in March 2006, claiming that the tram line would decrease inner city congestion, entice tourists to visit the city, help local business to thrive and would be also be a more eco-friendly form of transport than travelling by car or bus. Work began on the £512 million public transport investment in March 2008.
Edinburgh has seen problems already beginning to rise in the early stages of the estimated three year project. There has been an increase in traffic congestion with Leith Walk and, most recently, Princes Street reduced to one lane.
Local businesses have claimed that their trade has declined by approximately 25% since the tram work began. The government has offered all independent businesses a £4,000 compensation grant, however this is not covering the extreme losses that businesses are facing.
Tram developers, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE), are planning to fully close Princes Street from January to July 2009 in an attempt to keep the project on track in the hope of meeting the 2011 deadline. This has provoked outrage from shop owners and commuters with the problems already caused by the tram work set to escalate.
It is expected that the complete closure of Princes Street will result in rocketing congestion with all traffic being diverted to George Street. As well as excessive congestion, University of Edinburgh students can also expect irregular bus routes to and from their part-time jobs. The result of the tram work is going to increase commuting time for all inner city workers.
It seems that the Edinburgh trams are creating more problems than the line is set to solve. The tram service will only operate a limited line from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, Leith. Therefore the trams will not be a solution for those who live outside of the city who continue to face limited public transport into the centre.
Hope for Diabetes sufferers-published in Student 21/10/2008.
SCIENTISTS AT the University of Edinburgh have made break-through stem cell discoveries that could result in the progress of medical treatment for diabetes.
Dr Josh Brickman and his team of researchers at the University's Institute for Stem Cell Research and Centre for Regenerative Medicine have discovered a new method of developing stem cells that will replicate the cells that are found in the liver and pancreas.
Previous methods were unsuccessful as the cells created developed as a mixture and therefore created tumours once in contact with bodily organs. However, Dr Josh Brickman and his team have discovered a way to purify the cells to reduce the risk of tumours.
These new developments mean that purified cells can be produced from cell embryos under laboratory conditions, and then used to treat diabetes in place of insulin. The embryonic stem cells will be used to replace the damaged cells in the pancreas that inhibit the natural production of insulin in those who suffer from diabetes.
Dr Josh Brickman stated that "for the first time, we have found a way to generate and purify precursors of liver and pancreatic cells."
He continues, "remarkably these cells can grow in a dish, providing a renewable source for future applications in medicine."
Further research will be conducted before the discovery can be used in the treatment of diabetes.
Dr Josh Brickman and his team of researchers at the University's Institute for Stem Cell Research and Centre for Regenerative Medicine have discovered a new method of developing stem cells that will replicate the cells that are found in the liver and pancreas.
Previous methods were unsuccessful as the cells created developed as a mixture and therefore created tumours once in contact with bodily organs. However, Dr Josh Brickman and his team have discovered a way to purify the cells to reduce the risk of tumours.
These new developments mean that purified cells can be produced from cell embryos under laboratory conditions, and then used to treat diabetes in place of insulin. The embryonic stem cells will be used to replace the damaged cells in the pancreas that inhibit the natural production of insulin in those who suffer from diabetes.
Dr Josh Brickman stated that "for the first time, we have found a way to generate and purify precursors of liver and pancreatic cells."
He continues, "remarkably these cells can grow in a dish, providing a renewable source for future applications in medicine."
Further research will be conducted before the discovery can be used in the treatment of diabetes.
It's a Hard-knock Life (for Students)-published in Student 28/10/2008.
THE LOOMING recession and the soaring food prices are hitting University of Edinburgh students hard. Students are resorting to increasing the number of hours they work, on top of studying for a full time degree, in order to make ends meet.
A report by the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) discovered that more than half of U.K. students now work during term time in order to meet basic living requirements. Those who study in Scotland are the students who most likely to work, with 67% of Scottish students holding a part-time job during term time.
The lack of government help is making university life increasingly difficult for students. In the U.K. student loans fall short of covering accommodation expenses, leading to the students bearing the burden of working to meet basic living costs while studying for a full-time degree. Surveys have found that students are mostly reliant upon financial help from parents, savings and government grants. However, it was leaked that the government have over-estimated their annual budget of £17 billion, by £100 million. The government is currently in deliberation as to make up this miscalculation by limiting of the number of student grants they promised to make available. If this cut happens, students are going to suffer considerably during the economic crisis.
Students in Scotland are already working on average 20 hours a week according to a financial survey conducted by the Halifax bank. This figure is five hours more than the recommended maximum number of hours a student should work per week. Research by Unicorn Jobs, a student focused careers agency, showed that students should work no more than 15 hours per week in addition to full time study, as working long hours has been proven to have a negative effect upon university education.
A recent study by the National Union of Students (NUS) showed that 59% of students surveyed felt that part-time work did adversely affect their studies. While 38% admitted that, they had missed lectures in order to attend work. The rising cost of living and the potential withdrawal of government aid will force students to put even more of their time into part-time work, which could have a catastrophic effect upon university students.
James Gribben, a fourth year politics student at the University of Edinburgh who is juggling a full-time degree with a part-time job states that "student loans do not cover flat rent and then I have bills on top of that. I would like to work more hours from the point of view that I would like more money because I am supporting myself through university. But I don’t have the time to give from uni work."
Student life is becoming increasingly more strenuous as students are not only having to cope with moving away from home, but also have to manage a demanding work life balance that consists of academic work, paid work, society work and, if possible, a social life. Potential graduate employers are beginning to value society involvement and volunteer work, over regular part-time student jobs such as bar and shop work.
Niamh Ó Maoláin, second year Law student at the University of Edinburgh, believes that part-time work is an aspect of university life that helps to prepare you for the world of work after graduation. She stated that "part-time jobs can actually be really beneficial. You get used to a routine and learn how to get on in an office environment. Plus the money helps."
The question is should students have to be forced into minimum wage jobs that do not give them essential skills particular to an area of work that they are interested in? Should students be inhibited from focussing on their degree due to a lack of government funding? The government’s motto was ‘Education, education, education’. Yet it is making university life financially more difficult for students, which is set to become more arduous with the looming economic crisis.
A report by the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) discovered that more than half of U.K. students now work during term time in order to meet basic living requirements. Those who study in Scotland are the students who most likely to work, with 67% of Scottish students holding a part-time job during term time.
The lack of government help is making university life increasingly difficult for students. In the U.K. student loans fall short of covering accommodation expenses, leading to the students bearing the burden of working to meet basic living costs while studying for a full-time degree. Surveys have found that students are mostly reliant upon financial help from parents, savings and government grants. However, it was leaked that the government have over-estimated their annual budget of £17 billion, by £100 million. The government is currently in deliberation as to make up this miscalculation by limiting of the number of student grants they promised to make available. If this cut happens, students are going to suffer considerably during the economic crisis.
Students in Scotland are already working on average 20 hours a week according to a financial survey conducted by the Halifax bank. This figure is five hours more than the recommended maximum number of hours a student should work per week. Research by Unicorn Jobs, a student focused careers agency, showed that students should work no more than 15 hours per week in addition to full time study, as working long hours has been proven to have a negative effect upon university education.
A recent study by the National Union of Students (NUS) showed that 59% of students surveyed felt that part-time work did adversely affect their studies. While 38% admitted that, they had missed lectures in order to attend work. The rising cost of living and the potential withdrawal of government aid will force students to put even more of their time into part-time work, which could have a catastrophic effect upon university students.
James Gribben, a fourth year politics student at the University of Edinburgh who is juggling a full-time degree with a part-time job states that "student loans do not cover flat rent and then I have bills on top of that. I would like to work more hours from the point of view that I would like more money because I am supporting myself through university. But I don’t have the time to give from uni work."
Student life is becoming increasingly more strenuous as students are not only having to cope with moving away from home, but also have to manage a demanding work life balance that consists of academic work, paid work, society work and, if possible, a social life. Potential graduate employers are beginning to value society involvement and volunteer work, over regular part-time student jobs such as bar and shop work.
Niamh Ó Maoláin, second year Law student at the University of Edinburgh, believes that part-time work is an aspect of university life that helps to prepare you for the world of work after graduation. She stated that "part-time jobs can actually be really beneficial. You get used to a routine and learn how to get on in an office environment. Plus the money helps."
The question is should students have to be forced into minimum wage jobs that do not give them essential skills particular to an area of work that they are interested in? Should students be inhibited from focussing on their degree due to a lack of government funding? The government’s motto was ‘Education, education, education’. Yet it is making university life financially more difficult for students, which is set to become more arduous with the looming economic crisis.
Smashing the Glass Ceiling-printed in Student on 28/10/2008.
Over thirty years after the Sex Discrimination Act was administered in the U.K. women still face sexual disparagement within the workplace. Shocking statistics recently revealed that the gender pay gap has widened, and that women in Scotland now earn 32% less than their male counter-parts.
Women make up half of the workforce, with around 13.6 million women employed in the U.K. Yet women's work continues to be undervalued, with women treated as second-rate employees within society. It has been approximated that women are cheated out of £330,000 during their lifetime. It is irrational and detrimental to the workforce to discriminate against half of the skilled workforce.
Even though men and women are supposed to be equal citizens within society, men are much more likely to be given unjustified larger wages for the same number of hours as a woman, as well as being much more employable when it comes to the top occupational positions. Women currently represent only 11% of the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 directorship positions and female MPs make up only 19.3% of U.K. parliament, according to the Sex and Power report published this year. Women are highly unrepresented in the top positions in society. This gender imbalance at the top is ensuring that women continue to be exploited by their employees and forced to endure unacceptable gender discriminate wages.
Change is at a stand still for recent graduates. Three years after university graduation women still earn 15% less than male graduates. With 40% of men earning above £25,000 three years after their graduation, compared to only 26% of women. In education, women are expected to pay equal tuition fees and receive the same education as men. Yet once women leave University and enter into the workplace they are discriminated against purely based upon their gender. This pay inequality is making it increasingly difficult for women to pay off their tuition fees and various student loans. The gender pay gap that is still prevalent throughout society is not encouraging women to invest within their future and continues to make education economically unattainable for women.
Female graduates are not the only women within society who are feeling the burden of being a part of the female sex. Mothers are being further penalised by the sexism that is prevalent within the job industry. The unequal paternity and maternity laws, means that women are encouraged (some may say forced) to be the main caregiver. This disruption in women's careers, plus the added pressure of profit driven bosses and their negative attitude to women, pregnancy and maternity leave, means that women suffer. They are often forced to go part-time for unreasonable pay and in some cases leave their jobs to go into less skilled and low paid part time jobs. With childcare expenses, soaring and women's pay considerably less than men's pay; women are forced into the acceptance of low wages during motherhood when women need financial support the most.
The Equal Pay Act that first came into force in 1970 was a government attempt to eliminate gender pay discrimination, but the fact that the pay gap is still an issue shows that law is not going to make the crucial difference to women's lives. A recent survey showed that 29% of women believe that the gender pay gap will never be eliminated, highlighting that something more needs to be done in the U.K.; the European country with the widest gender pay gap.
There have been remarks that pay secrecy allows pay discrimination to thrive within the workplace. Yet an invasion of privacy and the exposure of corruption will not make sexism within the workplace disappear. We need to take a more radical approach to sex discrimination and attempt to change the cultural attitudes towards women in education and the workplace. We need to ensure that women’s work is not disparaged. That women are not continued to be seen as secondary citizens. That women are not stereotyped as being the main child carer. Women are essential to the workforce and need to be treated with the same respect that is shown to their male counterparts. In times of economic crisis such as these we need to encourage the development of the workforce to ensure that the economy continues to progress. The only way we can progress the work force is by changing cultural attitudes and by eliminating exploitation so that both men and women are paid equally for the hours that they work.
Women make up half of the workforce, with around 13.6 million women employed in the U.K. Yet women's work continues to be undervalued, with women treated as second-rate employees within society. It has been approximated that women are cheated out of £330,000 during their lifetime. It is irrational and detrimental to the workforce to discriminate against half of the skilled workforce.
Even though men and women are supposed to be equal citizens within society, men are much more likely to be given unjustified larger wages for the same number of hours as a woman, as well as being much more employable when it comes to the top occupational positions. Women currently represent only 11% of the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 directorship positions and female MPs make up only 19.3% of U.K. parliament, according to the Sex and Power report published this year. Women are highly unrepresented in the top positions in society. This gender imbalance at the top is ensuring that women continue to be exploited by their employees and forced to endure unacceptable gender discriminate wages.
Change is at a stand still for recent graduates. Three years after university graduation women still earn 15% less than male graduates. With 40% of men earning above £25,000 three years after their graduation, compared to only 26% of women. In education, women are expected to pay equal tuition fees and receive the same education as men. Yet once women leave University and enter into the workplace they are discriminated against purely based upon their gender. This pay inequality is making it increasingly difficult for women to pay off their tuition fees and various student loans. The gender pay gap that is still prevalent throughout society is not encouraging women to invest within their future and continues to make education economically unattainable for women.
Female graduates are not the only women within society who are feeling the burden of being a part of the female sex. Mothers are being further penalised by the sexism that is prevalent within the job industry. The unequal paternity and maternity laws, means that women are encouraged (some may say forced) to be the main caregiver. This disruption in women's careers, plus the added pressure of profit driven bosses and their negative attitude to women, pregnancy and maternity leave, means that women suffer. They are often forced to go part-time for unreasonable pay and in some cases leave their jobs to go into less skilled and low paid part time jobs. With childcare expenses, soaring and women's pay considerably less than men's pay; women are forced into the acceptance of low wages during motherhood when women need financial support the most.
The Equal Pay Act that first came into force in 1970 was a government attempt to eliminate gender pay discrimination, but the fact that the pay gap is still an issue shows that law is not going to make the crucial difference to women's lives. A recent survey showed that 29% of women believe that the gender pay gap will never be eliminated, highlighting that something more needs to be done in the U.K.; the European country with the widest gender pay gap.
There have been remarks that pay secrecy allows pay discrimination to thrive within the workplace. Yet an invasion of privacy and the exposure of corruption will not make sexism within the workplace disappear. We need to take a more radical approach to sex discrimination and attempt to change the cultural attitudes towards women in education and the workplace. We need to ensure that women’s work is not disparaged. That women are not continued to be seen as secondary citizens. That women are not stereotyped as being the main child carer. Women are essential to the workforce and need to be treated with the same respect that is shown to their male counterparts. In times of economic crisis such as these we need to encourage the development of the workforce to ensure that the economy continues to progress. The only way we can progress the work force is by changing cultural attitudes and by eliminating exploitation so that both men and women are paid equally for the hours that they work.
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