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Frances Roberts assesses why Amazon's 'The Red Pill' is propaganda for Men's Rights Activism and why making feminism the enemy is not the answer. During lockdown, my screen watching took me into the depths of the Amazon Prime rabbit hole where I came across ‘The Red Pill’, a documentary about the men’s rights movement released in 2016. The name comes from an analogy in the film ‘The Matrix’ where the central character is given a choice between a blue pill, where he can forever exist in the bliss of ignorance, or the red pill, hurtling him down a rabbit hole of his own where uncomfortable and shocking truths will be revealed. The MRA and founder of ‘A voice for men’, Paul Elam, claims that feminism is the blue pill, the woke status quo that we’ve been brainwashed to believe. An Amazon review perfectly articulates the film's fundamental flaws, arguing the documentary “plummets down a rabbit hole of bad information and fantastic stories”. The Red Pill seems to blur lines between fact and fiction to such an extent that it’s more accurate to describe it as a piece of propaganda than a documentary. The film maker Cassie Jaye has made documentaries focused on women’s rights for over a decade and starts the film by looking back at her route into feminism, as a young actor being cast in stereotypical roles. However, her feminist credentials are put into question as we watch her frustratingly vague video diaries and interviews where she passively listens to the MRA, nodding and smiling on numerous occasions. She later explained in her Ted Talk that the “number one rule of a documentary filmmaker is to not interrupt” but the job of an interviewer is also to ask the hard-hitting questions, rather than just ones that provide an ample opportunity to further their agenda. Paul Elam, for example, is a highly controversial figure writing articles like “When is it ok to punch your wife” and “I’ll decide if you were raped”. She did not live up to the immense responsibility of a divisive documentary maker; if it had been made by a different feminist, it would have been an entirely different film. Many of the themes seemed to treat men as a homogenous group, ignoring disparities. For example, in education where only a third of white working-class boys pass their maths and English GCSE and 9% will go to university, compared with around half of the general population. Or in the workplace where it was recently revealed that men working in the lowest skilled occupations had the highest rate of COVID-19 death, with security guards, taxi drivers and bus and coach drivers having a raised rate of death; these jobs are disproportionately held by BAME men with low socio-economic status. Until the men’s rights movement acknowledges its naivety, it will continue to swallow the blue pill and will never be taken seriously. There is method in their madness but it lacks the nuance to implement change. The disposability of male lives, was a central argument to the film portrayed in the further example of soldiers who are sent into battle and almost certain death which again, ignores class structures. Young working-class men were sent off to war by powerful generals and politicians (which continues to be the case in modern warfare), removed from any danger but often accountable for fatal mistakes. They were the ones making men’s lives disposable, they are the ones responsible for the millions of lives lost. Women also had to bear the brunt of the war effort without any concrete recognition, doing dangerous work in factories and being victimised by society for being raped by soldiers. Dr Warren Ferrell, author of “The Myth of Male Power”, describes a historical tale of woe where men have to die to receive recognition in history books and statues. Firstly, that’s fundamentally incorrect as there continues to be a huge gender gap in awards with women winning 27% of science prizes and receiving just 14% of nominations in the Oscars. Statues have been dominated by male figures not because we view male lives as disposable but because we celebrate them to the highest degree. They are a physical symbol of honour and respect, qualities that women are still fighting for. As a history student, his attempt to rewrite history (a practice enacted by many right-wing governments across the world) to portray men as the real victims of patriarchal forces was shocking. The Domestic Violence argument that the issue affects men almost as much as it affects women was a shocking revelation, but once my research directed me further down the rabbit hole, I discovered that the statistics don’t tell the full story. 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime but 1 in 4 men will too. The MRA’S in the documentary were very vocal about the injustice in the lack of men’s domestic violence shelters; in the UK 20 out of 3,600 beds are reserved for men (0.8%). There’s no question that their argument has value but where Men’s Rights activists fall short is in their constant complaints but lack of action. The first women’s shelters were only established 50 years ago and it’s only much more recently that they’ve begun to receive significant government funding. Almost half of women killed in the UK are murdered by a current or former partner and during the first two months of lockdown this saw a 27% increase on the year before. Unfortunately, it is difficult to draw comparisons with men, as the equivalent statistic doesn’t exist. It’s a feminist issue that there aren’t more options for male contraception and as women we need to be able to put trust men to use them. It’s a feminist issue that family courts have become bias towards women, reinforcing the domestic stereotype of the caring motherly role. It’s a feminist issue that women’s lives are portrayed as more vulnerable and death’s more shocking than men, implying we are weaker. So making feminism the enemy is not the solution. While the film is documenting the views of MRA’s, it’s also portraying a personal journey for Jaye at the end of which she renounces her feminism. This is where my fundamental issues with the documentary lie: It’s treatment of experience and opinions as fact. It’s propaganda. Perhaps most interesting of all is the political hindsight which viewers now possess. 63 days after the film was released, arguably America’s most misogynist president, Donald J Trump was elected into the White House. An exceedingly wealthy man with no previous political experience, now holds one of the most powerful positions in the Western world. He claims he has “tremendous respect for women” but has been accused of rape and is famous for joking that “grab[bing] them by the pussy” is “locker room banter”. In the last four years of his office he has banned international organisations providing abortion access to federal money and attempted to block legislation ensuring equal pay. The Red Pill’s timing couldn’t have been more misjudged.

Bethan Bottomley reflects on the differences between 'self care' and 'personal care' and how the challenges she faced in lockdown provided the chance for her own self care to develop into meaningful actions. Reflecting on the year so far, the term ‘biblical’ doesn’t feel at all melodramatic. Just about every test on our resilience as a species has been thrust on stage and, throwing into sharp focus the harsh realities of our crumbling society. The government guidance towards self care in lockdown was reflective of the negligence that the mental health sector has faced since its existence, and a feeling of hopelessness was a comparable pandemic in itself. The introspective nature of being locked inside was challenging even for the most resilient of us; the relentless cycle of updates and news forced us face to face with the systemic problems that are holding us back. We were forced to challenge the failings of the current societal formula and the truth that if meaningful and sustainable changes are not made now, we limit any hopes we may have for the future. When reflecting on the guidance given for self care over the last few months, the governments all too familiar bandage approach lacked a consideration for the long term. Yes, taking regular walks and checking in with friends gives my brain the space to breathe, but it does not quiet the anxiety for the future that can only come from transparency and radical action. This strange and incomparable time saw my mental health be both better and worse than ever before and the juxtaposition caused me to consider the difference between, what we call ‘self care’, and personal care. When we take care of ourselves personally we are tending to our personal needs, and by all means sometimes that's obtaining the material things that help us to relax. However, when we talk about self care, we have to make room to consider all the things that attribute to the ‘self’. This includes all of the components that contribute to who we are - our jobs, our family, our culture and essentially all of the things that nourish our development as human beings. The things we enjoy are no less important because of this, and making time for yourself is no less of a priority, but it’s time to reframe the idea of self care not just as a new house plant or a face mask (both kinds!), but instead as acts to meaningfully improve our quality of life. Even as I am writing this, a beautiful black athlete is on the news talking about how she uses skin lightening creams and serums in order to ‘improve’ her body image. She is saying she does this not just for her own self esteem, but also to earn the respect from sponsors and coaches that she should be receiving as a result of her performance alone. This is where we see capitalism rearing its ugly head,forming this bandage approach to self care. By marketing serums and spa treatments as a quick fix to the problem, we fail to expose and treat the rotting infrastructure underneath. This athlete is told that her skin is the problem. It’s not, racism is, and no amount of cream is going to fix it. This modern, materialistic approach fits in with how we currently view the narrative of self care; the idea isn’t completely on a tangent - anything that helps to improve your mental and physical wellbeing will aid in taking care of the self. So self care in this sense is a flexible term, but even so, when we are practicing this notion of self care, what (and who) are we practicing this for? In her essay ‘A Burst of Light’ Audre Lorde reflects on self care as “an act of political warfare” in a revolutionary approach to exploring her identity as a black, lesbian woman. She discusses in this essay that practicing self care rituals ensures resilience to the homophobia and racism that she faces every day around every corner. In this sense, Lorde looks after herself in order to maintain the strength to keep writing and empowering other women facing systemic oppression, which in turn makes the very act of her writing the most powerful self care. Lorde spent most of her adult life writing about white supremacy and feminism. Without her writings, and the collective effort of activists taking up space and projecting their voices, movements like Pride and Black Lives Matter wouldn’t be making the waves in society and culture that they are today. Societal progression is the result of self care; it is the result of people demanding better. This is when we see that the impact of self care in tackling the roots of an issue that affects your life and your ambitions, as opposed to bandaging the short term effects, is the best and most effective way that we can care for ourselves; not just by influencing our own situations but by also impacting on the lives of the people that matter to us. This could include our family members that come from the same socio-economic backgrounds as us, our friends whose gender or the way that they choose to worship is not respected or our planet whose resources for surviving are being looted. It could be anything that transcends ourselves beyond our personal needs and helps to improve our quality of life. I have been very fortunate over the last half a year and although coronavirus has directly impacted me in many ways, it also gave me the time to truly focus on my mental wellbeing. I began therapy at the beginning of lockdown and am thankful for the time this afforded me to focus on it without distraction. It also gave me the time to educate myself and to allow myself to be impassioned by causes that are close to me. It began by learning to make my own beeswax wraps and it developed into being active in tackling the structures of racism in my place of work. Self care in this way feels good, it feels nourishing and has meaning. We must start removing ourselves from the idea that activism is in any way self righteous. Self care is not indulgent, it is the only way that we can change the world. It may have taken a physical illness to expose the rife anxiety and need for radical self care across the world; but for whatever issue, new or old, that the effects of Covid-19 has helped to unearth, our activism towards them has to reflect the same patience and attention that we put into our personal care. Because candles and face masks (again, both kinds!) are nice, but dismantling systems of oppression is the most healing thing we can do for ourselves and the people we care for. Finally, for those of you reading now that are struggling with anxiety, know that for whatever uncertainties the future holds, the actions you take today control your history and you can put yourself on the right side of it.

Tomos Morgan provides his song recommendations for some much needed escapism. With six months living in almost complete isolation, there must have been a point where you thought to yourself, how can I upgrade my music playlists. Well I’m here for you, and have crafted an entire playlist just for you to close your eyes and imagine you managed to escape lockdown Britain and flee to Daddy’s summer house in Biarritz. In this section I’ll take you through some of the top picks and why I’ve have chosen them to feature on this playlist. So with the depressingly British weather settling in, and especially for those of you who are stuck in isolation once again; subscribe to our playlist, sit back and relax. PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vdyIrlFtSqdIGfpYembxe?si=nBS6w91SQ6eHWRM33EmUNA SOFTLY --- Clairo This young lil’ girl from Atlanta, Georgia, I hope goes on to find the fame she deserves. Ultimately I would have been happy putting any one of her singles from her recent album Debut Immunity and still be raving about it in the discussion section. This mistress of Lo-Fi pop has collabed with massive artists like Rejjie Snow and shows no signs of stopping her massive fandom growth since her break out single Pretty Girl. If you’re looking for a new reading album or late night study playlist - your girl Clairo is here for you. ting jeg lurer pa (things I wonder about) --- KA2 A very wacky Norwegian artist, who if you heard some of their other hits, you might genuinely believe you are stuck in a questionable area of Berlin’s clubbing district. Back after not much of a break with their new album of soft chill beats, but still with their original wacky artwork, their upbeat anthems will trick your senses that you could actually be at Reading festival right now. Good guys -- LANY I have been entranced by this band since their original sell out Bad, Bad, Bad. Just thinking about every one of these guys' successive albums gets me excited about their future music, as they are on their way to succeed with their soulful synth. With this new tune being born in LA, California, even in lockdown this band can pull together some of the best afterparty tunes. Lockdown -- Anderson.Paak, JID, Noname Responding constantly to the criticism of their fans, Anderson.Paak is another soul master featured on this playlist, but also an amazing rapper at that too. Perhaps I only like this remix as it has been the only accurate song to accurately capture the vibes of living through a global pandemic, but the featured artists here steal the spotlight. I have forever been a fan of NoName since her original debut album; she's another one to watch. Fitness - Freddie I honestly can’t tell you much about this artist, but he gets featured because he raps about being a power bottom in such a life-changing way. If you’re about supporting an upcoming black and gay artist, he is the only one worth recommending. Bodies -- The Knocks, MUNA This more upbeat song is by The Knocks. I can't tell you why but listening to this new hit has a sense of nostalgia that takes me back to the first welcome week I had as a fresher. The electronic Duo (The Knocks) and pop Trio (MUNA) have managed to capture life back when it was easy, the sort of song you picture yourself racing through the town, roof down, speakers up and throwing your hands any which way having one of the best nights of your life. Real Love x Sunchyme -- Clean Bandit, Dario G, Jess Glynne A punch of summers missed, and probably only making it to the listen because she is a fellow ginger. Jess Glynne can never do us wrong, and this remix is no exception. Watching us having to recycle old hits can be depressing with a lag of production in the current situation, but this innovative take on the classic makes getting out of bed every morning in a pandemic a little bit easier. Life’s A Mess -- Juice WRLD, Halsey I think the most common mindset is to keep calm and keep going as hard as possible, but this song is a gentle reminder it’s okay to take a break sometimes. I think people can become long sighted and put too much pressure to be productive on their vacation, but it's just as important to take time out for yourself. If We Never Met - John K, Sigala It's old, it's basic, it’s pop at its finest. There's a lot of time for self-reflection on you and your character at the moment, and we shouldn’t forget all the friends and progress we have made getting into such an amazing university. This song is about meeting the one; I’d probably argue there's multiple people out there perfect for you but that’s not my point here. You meet amazing people everyday and if you look at them as teachers along your way, we wouldn’t take any experiences we gain for granted. Rager Teenager -- Troye Sivan I tried, really I did, not to put Troye Sivan on this playlist but I am gay and we didn’t have much of a summer to celebrate pride - did we? His music ages like an Aussie Shiraz, the music growing from a youtuber busting out some songs in a studio to an actual artist on the scene. His new nostalgic hit belongs in a fine shelf of its own unique style, but the subtle beats of what was generic pop now feels more meaningful than just that.

A playlist for inspiring creativity by Frances Roberts. A mix of smooth but energising tunes to lift you up but ground you down. Perfect for those cloudy August days where the sun is trying its hardest to break through our windows and you're in need of a creative boost. PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1vLKNmj0g1rxMtnz1l00tl?si=1b7NQMLdRkybg1UqgFVq9g FEATURING: 54 songs, 3 hr 39 min

Tamara El-Halawani looks at why we need to replace 'cancel culture' with 'accountability culture'. Sitting with my Mum during lockdown, I was shown an article defending freedom of speech. Upon reading it, it appeared that most of my generation was regarded by hers as launching an attack against it, ready to rebuke anyone who said something that wasn’t ‘politically correct’. We were branded too sensitive, or told that we don't allow anyone to say anything in this climate. Moreover, many of us were lumped in with the Twitter mobs who angrily slammed their keys, igniting an internet attack as soon as they pressed ‘enter’ into a 280 character box. ‘Cancel culture’ has climbed its way back into our headlines. ‘Cancelling’ someone originated as black twitter users used the hashtag on the platform to voice their opinion on issues that mattered to them. It quickly gained traction as conversations grew over the #MeToo movement, holding public figures to greater accountability for their appalling actions. This person would be culturally blocked from having a distinguished public platform or career as the following ensued: a celebrity or someone of public standing would say or do something offensive, the public would retaliate on social media armed with politically progressive views and then the #cancel that person would begin. Those who engage in ‘cancelling’ someone often enlist activism as their justification for it. At its origins, this co-dependence appears true; those who are called out are used as an example of what you cannot say or do in society. Those who use racial slurs, that in our parents generations were acceptable, or stereotype whole groups of society, are publicly shamed by those who were oppressed. Yet, in its current form and as Obama stated, in October 2019, ‘woke [‘cancel culture’ is] ‘not activism’. It gives the perpetrator of ‘clicktivism’ a moral high where they feel superior to their peers but this doesn’t bring about change. It just ‘casts a stone’. It gives the perpetrator of ‘clicktivism’ a moral high where they feel superior to their peers but this doesn’t bring about change. It just ‘casts a stone’. The now infamous ‘Letter on Justice and Open Debate’ published in Harper’s Magazine in July this year, disputed ‘a stifling atmosphere [that] will ultimately harm the most vital causes of our time’. Over 150 academics, journalists, artists and academics signed it, declaring that society, and implicitly the left, has become more illiberal of opposing ideas. It suggested that free speech is being silenced and that this was a threat to democracy, built upon the free movement of ideas. It included JK Rowling, who recently tweeted ignorantly transphobic comments. What she and them were alluding to was ‘cancel culture’. Chanté Joseph said on the Podcast ‘Podulting’ that, ‘For a long time, I think that the media have painted young people who are socially conscious as this hungry, foam at the mouth mob who literally just want to tear people down. But actually no, we are some of the most forgiving people... We are so much more direct about what we like and what we dislike and what we find problematic...but that doesn’t mean that you’re below being forgiven or the capacity and space for change.’ It is wholly agreeable that the ‘mob mentality’ that comes with ‘cancel culture’ is wrong; no individual should be bullied or sent death threats. This is where the term ‘cancel culture’ is frustrating; sometimes it is used to downplay legitimate criticism where someone might be trying to contribute to the broader discussion of a topic. This means that when people are scared to admit that they are wrong, rather than owning this and doing better, they choose to aggregate those who are criticising them with those who are giving them abuse. As highlighted in Reno Eddo Lodge’s book ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’, those with anti-racist views were seen as oppressors of ‘free speech’ in the 2015 British Rhodes Must Fall Movement. Objection by students at Oxford University calling for the removal of the statue of colonialist businessmen Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College launched the nation into debate. Those against its removal argued that it would be an undemocratic erasure of history, with the Chancellor of the University Lord Patten stating that the students were stifling the freedom of speech by protesting. In trying to stop a conversation in which students criticised their institution, he was preventing free speech. More widely, in the context of racism, it becomes clear that equality to the privileged feels like oppression. This is where the term ‘cancel culture’ is frustrating; sometimes it is used to downplay legitimate criticism where someone might be trying to contribute to the broader discussion of a topic. Similar debate began when students from the BlackEd movement and Elizabeth Lund at Edinburgh University campaigned in a petition for the renaming one of the most prominent buildings on campus. It had been named after David Hume, who held racist beliefs. Those against the renaming argued that taking away his name would be akin to trying to remove Hume from history. The campaign was challenging whether Hume should be so visibly celebrated, not asking for his work never to be read or discussed. While the initial counter name suggestion of Julius Nyerere drew criticism, Elizabeth Lund amended the petition to ‘not replace one bigot with another’. The idea that we live in an intolerant censorship driven society is unsupported by reality. We now live in perhaps one of the most controversial times where people are allowed to administer provocative statements to the masses. Those who think that ‘social justice warriors’ are a threat to free speech and democracy appear to be people whose privilege has camouflaged their ability to distinguish between criticism and censorship. In fact, those who are supposedly ‘cancelled’ are least likely to be ‘cancelled’, leading to some rendering the term as non-existent; JK Rowling still has her career and is due to be releasing a book, Shane Gillis, who had made homophobic and racist jokes and was dropped by Saturday Night Live, has since hosted many shows and R.Kelly and Michael Jackson saw increases in their music sales in 2019. Katie Hopkins also complained recently about being ‘cancelled’ after her account was removed from twitter. Her presentation as ‘cancelled’ has brought new fans as she continues to grow a new platform on Instagram. She wasn’t ‘cancelled’; her account was taken down as she was promoting hateful speech, against Twitter guidelines. The idea that we live in an intolerant censorship driven society is unsupported by reality. The sad irony is that the people who openly criticise these ideas tend to be those who had been historically silenced, and are minorities at the greatest risk of cancel culture. This isn’t to say that some people’s infractions aren’t tone-deaf or offensive. However, it helps the people at the tops of companies to fire employees at the bottom of the pyramid; the minimum amount of social radicalism is done rather than a change made to the infrastructure in which these views were built. ‘Cancel culture’ needs to be changed; it is wrong for those behind a screen to send abusive messages to those who have been ignorant and made stupid mistakes. In cases such as Harvey Weinstein, the person ought to lose their platforms for the horrific acts that they have committed and profited from. When posts promote hate or violence, it becomes the duty of social media companies to remove the account. More generally though, it is unrealistic to think that humans are incapable of fault. ‘Accountability culture’ would allow for redemption, for someone to apologise and their wrong to be a step closer to a right. ‘Cancel culture’ is the scapegoat used when we don’t have time to attack the systems of inequality practically and productively. It is these structures that young people can tackle as we educate ourselves and those around us. Black Lives Matter is an example of what happens when people channel their frustrations productively. As a result and with this compassion, we are seeing a cultural shift in our generation towards progressive change.

Kirsty Vass Payne examines the influence that news we read has on our everyday outlooks and the importance of diversifying its content. In recent months we have seen the Black Lives Matter movement be propelled front and centre. Many other social justice movements have also reappeared and gained prominence all over social media and in the news. There’s a lot to be said and frankly a lot to be learnt. A key step in this process of learning is diversifying the news you are reading in order to broaden your knowledge of issues facing people across the world, and the different opinions surrounding these. This can seem overwhelming, but it’s actually been found that those who diversify their news feed end up feeling less anxious about the world we live in. What’s to lose? Firstly, it’s vital to consider where you currently get your information about what is happening in the world from. Each source of information comes with its own issues, biases and dilemmas and offers a wildly different perspective on current affairs. Therefore, taking in a wide variety of new sources and opinions from around the world is essential to be a well-informed person and protects you from falling victim to carefully picked facts and one sided arguments. Think about considering some of the following: Where does your information come from: do you get it from social media, newspapers, the TV, politicians or a combination of places? Who are the actors behind these sources: who owns the news company, what are the prevailing issues in the party that your politicians are part of, what are your friends’ political views, how free is the press coverage that you’re reading?. Are the voices you're reading diverse: do they come from different backgrounds, races, countries, political stances? Most importantly, how does all of the above influence what you read? Are you simply engaging with only British sources or voices from one end of the political spectrum? With this in mind, remember the power of social media. For many (44% of adults in the UK) social media is a main source of news. However, with strong algorithms and easily shareable and addictive posts, it comes with its pitfalls. Often, social media will show you what you want to see, so if you love left wing news, the Telegraph is unlikely to pop up (especially since you probably didn’t like it) and vice versa. The notion of fake news is often talked about, yet most believe they are not victims of it. Yet, just the other week, many people I know shared posts incorrect posts about putting Palestine back on the map. We are all susceptible. However, with this in mind social media is a great tool for learning more about news otherwise neglected. It is often a source of information and gathering for new and upcoming revolutionary, protest or social justice movements that are struggling to get mainstream media attention. These sorts of accounts are worth following. Social media is a vital component of our news intake nowadays but it is fundamental that you seek out factually correct, trustworthy sources and double check these by verifying through a quick research before you believe everything you read. In addition, social media perpetuates the modern age issues of trending topics. Everyone had thoughts and feelings on BLM in June, but by late July social media was lacking the same vigor. In order to continue your engagement with really worthwhile causes, look at following activists and organisations associated with these movements on your accounts. This will keep you up to date with the current issues facing the causes you care about and more importantly stop them falling off your radar completely once people stop sharing posts. We all fall into habits and like to listen to voices that we sympathise with. It’s hard to choose to read articles and opinions you don’t agree with and challenge your perspective or even find new sources to trust. Yet, it’s worth it if it causes you to actively listen and learn more about the wide variety of struggles in the world and how everyone (not just the people with matching opinions) feel about them. So, challenge yourself to seek out some different opinions on Facebook; follow an opposing newspaper; engage with foreign sources of news; listen to podcasts that host debates from both sides of the political spectrum or try to find and listen to diverse voices within causes you already follow. Simply put, actively seek out new and varied sources of news however you wish. By taking simple actions such as those mentioned above, you will broaden your awareness thereby making yourself a better force for change in the world.

A poem by Lourenço Anunciação alongside one of his favourite pictures of Lisbon. gently he raises his head and breathes in the seemingly endless sea the clouds’ whispers had woken the old fisherman from his nap but this was normal for Tuesday, for everyday he is in a hazy trance only wakening to feed his mind the ever-blue tableau around his boat chatting to himself he stops to consider; consider what you might ask? first he asks the tuna if God will turn the lamp on come morning or if the sun will ever rise again. he discusses morality and mortality with the mussels ethics, among other things, in the eels’ thoughts for the evening and between their silky patrol of the waters, one shark asks the other what makes one life better than another? later he turns to the dolphins and opens his lips before the wind words scatter like swallows disappearing into the shadows of the sky a stream-of-consciousness for the salmons to savour the old man and the sea, so soft is his soliloquy ‘what if the sky and the stars are for show, and we are all puppets programmed to go?’ he then stops and stares into the eyes of the ocean and wonders ‘what is this daily dance I do? sometimes my life feels like a maze or a lonely book …’ but this newly born thought is usurped a fleeting rhyme seeps into his mind ‘purple orange sky giving me a high, only half alive in this life I call mine’ the light was brightening again, his doubts of the sun’s loyalties in vain for returned she has this softly spoken flame arching his back the man sits on the ship’s floor he realised he had forgotten to fish again his mind takes one last walk with the clouds ‘i was going to write a poem but how would anyone know?’ we are all playing a guessing game with no end waiting silently for life to next move us and our moods there is no rhyme or reason to life and love; we are what we are, we are all fishermen

Kirsty Thomson provides an exploration into the support shown by government towards creative industries across Edinburgh in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Having been under lock-down since the 23rd of March, many have faced difficulties subsequent to losing work and becoming unemployed. It is a problem faced by all sectors of society and impacts all industries, perhaps most significantly those who work in the entertainment/culture/creative sector. The COVID-19 Pandemic has proven an incredibly challenging time for not only performers and artists, but also for creative practitioners and organisations who have been both personally and professionally implicated by the disease and its lasting preventative measures. Furthermore, as well as being endangered in the immediate sense, the future of the arts industry amidst the possibility of emerging from the crisis is uncertain at best. In the last few months Westminster has set aside £1.57bn to be spent across the United Kingdom to offer protection to creative spaces such as theatres, museums and galleries. While this money will help to weather some of the impact of COVID-19, is money alone truly going to be enough to help support creative industries? If not, what better support systems could be put into place? At present, the aid given to the arts and culture sector is primarily financial. Alongside the £1.57bn investment set to benefit all aspects of the culture and events industry, the Scottish government have also set up a series of support systems targeted for Scottish creatives. There have been funding opportunities opened up, as well as a scheme similar to the Job Retention programme established for those who are self-employed. Further, Creative Scotland have collated together a list of resources and opportunities for monetary compensation. These funds, however, and government investment raises many questions; professionals are seeking more clarity as to who exactly can benefit from the programme and how money will be spread across the different disciplines within the creative industry. The government grant in particular highlights that museums, heritage sites and music venues all can benefit from the scheme. However, independent music festivals, which have lost the entire summer season, are not included in the fine-print and thenceforth, will struggle to return to normality. The situation worsens further for individuals. When reading the information behind the various funding opportunities and grants being offered, a great deal of emphasis is placed upon the rebuilding of infrastructure and buildings. This suggests that perhaps the money committed isn’t created as a means of support for creators and performers. Whilst ensuring the survival of infrastructure is imperative in keeping performers and creatives in work, there are some disciplines where it is not entirely appropriate and money would be better spent by offering support to creators themselves. Despite the industry being synonymous with big names, agencies and networks, it also is highly dependent on freelance workers and small independently owned businesses. So long as the support is aimed at corporations and infrastructure, their future is incredibly uncertain. Support for artists as well as their core team (managers, crew members, agents etc.) is necessary for the live performance sector to exist. Clarity for these individuals is vital. 'So long as the support is aimed at corporations and infrastructure, their future is incredibly uncertain.' The conversation about support for creators lies right on our doorstep; Edinburgh following the cancellation of the Fringe Festival is currently facing an estimated £300m to £1bn loss. The festival itself is not only an opportunity for creators from all over the world to come to Edinburgh to share their craft, but also is considered a fruitful season for local business owners and creatives. There are also concerns about the loss of the social environment; during the Fringe, Edinburgh becomes a hive for fostering meaningful connections with fellow creatives and sharing cultural experiences. As the festival is largely centred around the social context and inherently social connections made, it is not as possible to transfer the experience over to an online space compared to other areas of the arts sector. The financial impact of closing the festivals in Edinburgh and indeed all artistic events and spaces are considerable, but the social impact is just as profound. Whilst money can help fix some problems, no amount can match the loss of a space that builds social solidarity through the sharing and appreciation of cultural and artistic experience. As well as monetary compensation, what the industry needs is support from the community at a localised level. In supporting local artists, you support the local art community and this continues to higher levels, helping the arts community at large. Often it feels as though the only way in which you can support local artists is to purchase their work, but in reality there is lots more that can be done and it is neither complicated nor expensive. At the moment more than ever, creatives have moved into the online sphere. Whilst the experience is not the same, attending virtual events and following along with and sharing updates on social media is a very easy way of supporting local artists. The creative sector relies upon passion and enthusiasm: both are things which can translate into the virtual world. 'The creative sector relies upon passion and enthusiasm: both are things which can translate into the virtual world.' Lots of artists at the moment are enjoying the opportunity to master their craft and this is something you can support by investing in their work. With increased time on their hands, several local artists in Edinburgh are offering commission pieces, so by supporting them you are able to receive a custom personal piece. When it comes to support, no amount of time you put in is going to be too much - you have everything to gain and nothing to lose from supporting local creatives. The pandemic has illustrated to us the importance of art and culture; it brings people together and allows for us as individuals to better understand and appreciate those around us. It is imperative that it returns back to normality as now more than ever we have discovered just how reliant we are upon it.

Kirsty Vass Payne shares her favourite spots in the capital, featuring plenty of cycles, walks and hidden spots. 1. Ramsay lane An ode to the lane next to (and past) the red and white houses you see off from Princes Street. The lovely old houses before and the walk down from the castle down Ramsay Lane, joining onto the mound, is frankly very pretty. 2. Rosslyn Chapel Bit of a cycle out (6 miles or so from Marchmont) but a lovely one if you follow the bike paths and worth it for the historic and gorgeous (15th century) chapel, castle and glen. Also, it’s in the Da Vinci code; Tom Hanks was there. 3. The Vennel Great views of the castle and unusually quiet even though it comes off Grassmarket (though popular for the Instagrammers). Plus, it’s a scenic shortcut from the art college, worth the trip for the view and a stop at Mary's Milk bar. 4. Crammond island A tidal island that you can access from Crammond beach for the 2hrs before and after low tide. The island is grassy and features WWII fortifications which are fun to look around. The beach is sandy and the views of the Forth are worth the visit alone. 5. Threipmuir reservoir (the Pentlands) Everyone knows the Pentlands are stunning and this reservoir is easily accessible by bus or bike (following the water of Leith to Balerno). The reservoir itself has sandy beaches and is warmer than most swimming spots due to being peaty. 6. The Wild West: Morningside An Edinburgh oddity built for advertising purposes by a south western furniture company, but now dilapidated. It has a western/ghost town atmosphere whilst also being opposite a garage. The space features a jail, cantina, and general store and is bizarre yet fun to visit. 7. The Water of Leith Cycle Network to the Port of Leith 12 miles of beautiful cycle network from Balerno to Leith. Great to run, walk, or cycle along and with lovely views the whole way. It takes you past many lovely places, such as Dean Village, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art and St Bernard’s well. Personally, I recommend following to the end the trip at the Port of Leith. 8. The Canal and Craiglockhart hill The canal is always a fabulous run and Craiglockhart is a truly underrated and enjoyable to run up. Follow the canal until you reach Craiglockhart, veer off and up Glenlockhart Hill and you’ll reach the base, a nice pond, and multiple paths to follow up the hill. Once at the top you’ll have fab views of Blackford Hill/Arthur’s seat and the Pentlands. 9. Holy Trinity Church Truly a stunning church, you can see it from below in Dean Village. However, I recommend walking across the bridge it’s on and looking out over the area and houses. The view from there is truly glorious. 10. The Top of Victoria Street Everybody and their mother have visited and photographed Victoria Street. But the top of it is often forgotten and has a great view of Grassmarket and the Royal Mile as a whole. Truly underappreciated.

Kate Charlton looks into the debate over taking down PornHub and the #TraffickingHub and how OnlyFans could be used as a more ethical means of sex work. Past Growing up as a young girl, porn was a dirty word that I was taught not to discuss. In sex education in  school, boys were taught about masturbation and porn whilst girls were taught about pregnancy and periods - the pleasure/practicality divide between boys and girls cemented from a young age. Like with me, for many women porn was a taboo subject. It has been ingrained into girls from a young age that sex is about reproduction, not pleasure. This stems from the harmful gender binary of women as innocent and domestic vs. men as powerful and virile. For women, the fact that porn and masturbation isn’t discussed with us at a young age reinforces the idea that for us, sex isn’t about pleasure because if we learn to enjoy sex then we might get pregnant. Boys don’t have this same issue and therefore, can be freely taught about shameless masturbation. This was why I saw women watching porn as liberating for their sexual prowess, charging a field dominated by men to reclaim sexual pleasure as their own. This was why I saw women watching porn as liberating for their sexual prowess, charging a field dominated by men to reclaim sexual pleasure as their own. Present However, people cannot claim to be feminists and enjoy the sex industry without taking active measures to respect and support its workers. It has always been known that PornHub is exploitative of its workers, and it has recently come to the forefront of news again with the #TraffickingHub campaign. The campaign, founded by Laila Mickelwait, aims to take down PornHub, and for the company to be held accountable for profiting off of the trafficking and abuse of women and children. They use the example of a 15 year old girl who went missing and was only found a year later after 58 films of her abuse emerged on the site (1) . Another 14 year old girl was kidnapped at knifepoint and her r*pe was filmed and posted on the site, and only when she posed as a lawyer after months of asking for them to take it down, did the site finally do so to avoid legal action (note: not for ethicality or compassion). PornHub has no systems in place to regulate such videos being uploaded in regards to age nor consent and only an email address is required. Subsequently through ad revenue on these videos, PornHub profits millions upon millions. “Tell your bff that sex workers are not the enemies of progress, that they are in fact exploiting the system built to oppress them, and that this alone is iconic as fuck” - Florence Given, 2020 The concept behind OnlyFans is a stepping stone for female sex workers to gain bodily and monetary autonomy over their work outside of male pimps and porn directors. Women finally have the chance and the platform to be their own boss from the safety of their homes and outside of the corruption of the present sex industry. Physical harm that plagues street work (work necessary for some women as a means to survive) and also film set work isn’t an issue as women can control what they uploaded and when, essentially the freelancers of the sex industry. In spite of the promising model, OnlyFans doesn’t come without its issues.  Hacks and underage workers (for example in BBC documentary Nudes4Sale (2)) plague the site.  With technology as advanced as it is today, subscription content can be illegally downloaded and  uploaded onto PornHub for free without reprimand from the website (a perfect example of why PornHub is corrupt). OnlyFans does require age verification but this is easy to cheat; the law doesn’t require these sites to ask for ID and so it is clear why there is a lack of incentivisation in these industries to be thorough. With influencers being open about OnlyFans and the rewards they reap, it is easy for underage and impressionable people to see how much money they are earning and want to do it themselves, but like with PornHub this can lead to exploitation. If age verification checks were vigilant, however, and there was no risk of underage users, then OnlyFans does have the potential to be a trailblazer in the revolutionising of sex work. The response to OnlyFans has been an eye opener for me. Debate on Twitter consists predominantly of men shaming women for 'not respecting themselves' for building up their own profile on the website, versus the defence consisting mostly of women who stood up for the positivity in women's bodily autonomy. Why is it that these men are deluded into thinking their opinion matters on the topic of the female body? They happily partake in watching PornHub, where notoriously women are abused and mistreated in the name of good content for their pleasure (as I will explore below). Are men scared now that women have risen up the ranks and have control over their content? How can it be that men can guiltlessly enjoy content on PornHub but shame the very people that they use for their pleasure? Why shouldn't women be able to take control and capitalise on the sexualisation of their bodies that are a product of hundreds of years of patriarchal society? There is a lot of stigma around the field of sex work, some criticism deserved in terms of how the industry treats its workers and the safety of the job. However, people must respect sex workers like the humans they are. The work they do is necessary for their livelihood and they just want to survive like you and me. Furthermore with the rise of OnlyFans, sex work can potentially be safely regulated to protect its workers. OnlyFans requires age consent in the form of picture ID taken alongside the picture of the account holder so users must be verifiably over the age of 18. If this verification process is airtight then the website could be the new normal of safe and ethical sex work. Although as I have previously stated there are many shortcuts around this, PornHub doesn’t require users to do this at all which is indicative of their ethics regarding the exploitation of underage people. Future The future of porn relies on safety and ethicality for its workers. In the era of #MeToo, it is our responsibility as a society to support and protect sex workers and create an environment for them to work where they won't come into harm. In my opinion, if you watch porn but don't support the autonomy of (legal) female sex workers on OnlyFans, then you are being a hypocrite. OnlyFans does have vast progress to be made with it's model and the practical application, in that verification checks must be even tighter and underage girls protected, but the concept behind the website is paving the way for exploitation-free and abuse-free sex work. For the future of porn to be ethical, PornHub must be taken down. I implore you to abstain from using the site in the meantime to prevent the website traffic that funds them. That being said, womxn remember it is perfectly normal to enjoy (ethical) porn and masturbation and it isn’t just something men are allowed to do! To be active in bringing down PornHub sign the petition (which already has over 1 million signatories) on the TraffickingHub website: https://traffickinghub.com (1) Traffickinghub - Shut Down Pornhub and Hold Its Executives Accountable for Aiding Trafficking [Internet]. Traffickinghub.com. 2020 [cited 4 July 2020]. Available from: https://traffickinghub.com/ (2)  BBC Three - Nudes4Sale [Internet]. BBC. 2020 [cited 4 July 2020]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p087m1nh

Elena Silverstein examines whether eating local meat or less meat is better for the planet and how we can reduce our impact on the climate. Introduction The meat and dairy industries are in the headlines again with Covid19 outbreaks in meatpacking plants and pandemics caused by animal agriculture and wet-farms worldwide. Yet, ‘Big Livestock’ is being bailed out by the UK government. Buying local foods, whatever they mean in practice, is often seen as a better option for the sustainably conscious and welfare aware but is it the future of ‘good’ food? There are many variations amongst large and small-scale farms around the UK. Scientists generally agree that large ‘intensive’ farms are devastating for the environment and animal welfare. Approximately 90% of British meat is currently produced by large UK intensive farms and the number of small farms is declining. Supporting local businesses is vital, especially during the pandemic, but local animal agriculture is not the dream as advertised. There is a misconception about local small-scale farms being environmentally sustainable if they scale up to meet UK demand. However sustainable a small farm might claim to be, it is irrelevant because they will never be able to keep up with demand without employing appalling intensive farm practices. We must consider the overwhelming number of small farms needed to replace intensive farms in the UK when figuring out their impact on the planet. Environmental Impact Animals live longer on small farms because they aren’t fed industrialised feeds or artificially selected to grow abnormally large very quickly. Therefore, they usually require a larger input of resources like food and water but also more land to roam. Intensive farms produce larger volumes of waste pollution because of their size and cost efficient but deadly practices. The waste coming out of a small farm is more manageable because of their size but the volume of small farms needed to replace intensive ones defeats the environmental purpose. Transport accounts for just 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions from food production. The greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation of most animal products is a relatively insignificant environmental factor in the life cycle. Importing certain crops can actually be better for the environment than buying local animal products like beef or lamb. We are not reliably informed that grass-fed animals are good for soil because their grazing helps absorb CO2 into the ground. However, an Oxford University study showed that CO2 absorbed by grazing livestock in no way offsets the rest of the emissions from livestock. Carbon offsetting by grazing (‘carbon sequestration’) would not make farms sustainable if we switched to that form of farming. ‘Big Livestock’ say that grassland can’t be used for anything but livestock. It isn’t just the grassland that livestock need, 59% of UK croplands are used to grow animal feed that should be used to directly feed humans. Local vs Plant based Plant-based diets require less land which allows land currently used for livestock to be rewilded for carbon capture and create habitats. Livestock and lack of biodiversity on farms destroys soil health. By not farming monocultured crops (i.e. corn and soya) for animal feed and using up so much land for livestock, we could improve soil health and grow a variety of crops sustainably for human consumption. Almost 80% of the world’s agricultural land is currently used for livestock. In the UK, it’s estimated that plant-based diets require 1/3 of the fertile land, energy and fresh-water of a typical British ‘meat-and-dairy’ diet. There is not enough land in the UK to supply the population with their current consumption habits without factory farms. The sustainable solution is to reduce or remove meat, dairy and eggs from our plates. Accessibility Global trade allows for essential foods to be distributed to people across the world. This is good for trade and international relations and we shouldn’t necessarily discourage people around the world from buying overseas produce when transport is a relatively small proportion of agricultural pollution. Transportation is an issue but we can cut food related emissions far more effectively by reducing the volume of animal products. Purchasing seasonal foods from local farms can be good but we can’t expect everyone to do it. Small local and express supermarkets are amongst the most convenient places for students to shop. Avoiding animal products is usually more straightforward, affordable and less restrictive than searching for locally sourced meat products. As difficult as it can be to find local products, ‘local’ labels can frequently be misleading but an attractive marketing tool for ‘greenwashing’. We don’t always know where livestock feed has come from; your neighbour’s cow might be fed imported grain. Buying from small farms also costs more for the consumer which is elitist when asking everyone to stop buying meat from factory farms. The affordable and sustainable option is to reduce or remove animal products from your diet. Supporting Farmers The average UK farm makes more money from subsidies than they do from agriculture, but the subsidies could instead be invested in supporting farmers' transition from livestock farming to other careers like crop farming or assisting with rewilding and generating bioenergy from crop by-products. Is it Necessary? Some say livestock live ‘happy’ lives on local farms which excuses us from breeding them and prematurely taking their lives ‘humanely’ for us to eat. ‘Humanely’ and ‘happy’ are just about vague enough to prevent us asking if it’s necessary to kill over 6.4 billion animals in the UK every year. What is a humane method to kill a sentient being if their death is not needed for our survival? Red and processed meats cause damage to our health. Plant-based diets are healthy and have been around for a long time. The rising number of delicious choices in supermarkets makes it a comfortable, affordable and positive switch. Your Impact You have the power to choose plant-based meals! Campaign for Meat Free Mondays at our university. There are new companies in the process of reinventing meat and they’re confident that in time we won’t be able to tell the difference between a beef steak and a plant steak. All over the world, companies and student start-ups are developing clean meat from cells without harming anyone or the planet. In the meantime, let’s eat some plants. Further Reading Videos and documentaries Netflix Documentaries: Cowspiracy, Explained (Season 2, Episode 3 ‘The Future of Meat’), What the Health, Knives Over Forks 73 Cows documentary about ex-cattle farmer - https://vimeo.com/293352305 Vox ‘Why beef is the worst food for the climate’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lrJYTsKdUM Alex O’Connor on animal rights - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcVR2OVxPYw The Future of Meat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn-GG1zDu1E Collection of short clips: Earthling Ed responding to different arguments - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL03LZR09P2gQJyBgHk_XE8gbj8j9uFs8GThe Need to Grow (regenerative agriculture documentary) - https://grow.foodrevolution.org/?fbclid=IwAR1B_ET3FtBgoD6kk6lIUOvqFvfKisAXoWSGLkO7phzwR1rYQXg2ATWOwyo Reading Our World in Data, Meat and Dairy Production - https://ourworldindata.org/meat-production Our World in Data, local food - https://ourworldindata.org/food-choice-vs-eating-local Our World in Data, agriculture - https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food Local food isn’t always an option - https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/relying-on-local-food-is-a-distant-dream-for-most-of-the-world Vox, local food - https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/2/20/21144017/local-food-carbon-footprint-climate-environment Zero waste Scotland, carbon footprint of food - https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/press-release/consider-carbon-footprint-food-climate-week-2 Vegan cheat sheet: Nearly everything about veganism on one spreadsheet - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19Cm5yHp16zSTSFrQ3B_3_vIK0b5QlJ8jpyPVrPrCKS0/htmlview?fbclid=IwAR3-D7T8ARArB73w3BveLIB8KymluPRUMaEUOOUrfFUillMzDwTEX8mKaG8# Huge Reduction In Meat-Eating ‘Essential’ To Avoid Climate Breakdown - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/10/huge-reduction-in-meat-eating-essential-to-avoid-climate-breakdown Food Production Is Responsible For One-Quarter Of The World’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions -  https://ourworldindata.org/food-ghg-emissions The consequences if the world decided to go meat-free - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170612-the-consequences-if-the-world-decided-to-go-meat-free The best way to save the planet? Drop meat and dairy - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/08/save-planet-meat-dairy-livestock-food-free-range-steak Giving up beef will reduce carbon footprint more than cars, says expert - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/21/giving-up-beef-reduce-carbon-footprint-more-than-cars Making Veganism accessible - https://wearyourvoicemag.com/white-vegans-accessibility-poc/ Vox, crops going to animal feed - https://www.vox.com/2014/8/21/6053187/cropland-map-food-fuel-animal-feed 800 (US style) mega farms in UK - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/17/uk-has-nearly-800-livestock-mega-farms-investigation-reveals Health NHS easy guide to a vegan diet - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-vegan-diet/ *I take a B12 vitamin most days. It’s a good idea to take this vitamin whatever your diet is since many people are slightly deficient, including some meat eaters* Protein - https://nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-protein-preferable/ Apps I’m vegan/vegetarian – keeps track of what you save every day Happy Cow – restaurants nearby TooGoodToGo – for food waste Abillionveg – restaurant and food item reviews *** The vegan cheat sheet linked in the reading section contains a huge number of books, studies, speeches, podcasts, videos, recipes (basically everything) on one nice spreadsheet.

A poem by Frances Roberts inspired by place cards at the BLM protest in Bristol. You cannot enjoy the rhythm but ignore the blues You cannot appreciate black culture but not black lives I see you, I hear you, I stand with you, Well 2m apart At an appropriate social distance But Stand for something or fall for anything Boris Johnson Doesn’t care about Black people a racist cunt And trump has a tiny knob Wash your hands of racist bigotry you detty pigs Rashan Charles Mark Duggan Classen Lewis How many more more innocent black men will die at the hands of police? How many names are there that weren’t filmed Disappearing into the depths of a forgotten past Never to be uttered Silence is violence Emptiness speaks Protesters in PPE Exhale heavy under a cotton cover It’s harder to breathe I can’t breathe WE CAN’T BREATHE Racism is a pandemic BAME communities disproportionately dying from this virus, systemic If you’re not angry, you’re not listening You’re probably white Some have the authority to kill a minority! And you chose to echo the status quo The view of a blind majority Colour is not a crime I see no changes, all I see is racist faces