Friday 4th July 2025
Blog Page 1159

Student jailed over assault in Plush last year

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Abdulrahman Abdelsalamformerly a second year law student at Lady Margaret Hall, was sentenced last Thursday to nine months imprisonment for an assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The attack, which was carried out against another student, Jeanne Marie Ryan, occurred on 22nd March 2014 at the Plush Lounge nightclub

During the trial in June, Abdelsalam, of Edgware, Greater London, told a jury at Oxford Crown Court that he had attacked a woman in self-defence, and denied the allegations that he had groped her. Abdelsalam was unanimously convicted by the jury of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but was acquitted of the sexual assault charges.

Shortly after the assault had occurred, Ryan’s ”no makeup selfie” raised almost £17,000 for the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre. The image, posted on her Facebook account over a year ago, showed her physical injuries from the incident which, last Thursday, Judge Ian Pringle concluded were the consequence of ”a sustained or repeated assault on this young lady […] the injury was serious.” He added“I would be failing in my duty if I were to not pass a sentence today of imprisonment.” Abdelsalam’s defence lawyers had sought community service rather than imprisonment.

Though Abdelsalam has been acquitted of sexual assault, questions continue to be raised about the importance of tackling the issue of sexual assault, especially towards women, during their time at university. Eden Tanner, the co-chair of operations for OUSU’s It Happens Here Campaign, a ‘campaign raising awareness of sexual abuse and violence happening in Oxford and in our University’ told Cherwell, “we appreciate how difficult the legal process can be for survivors of sexual violence, and we hope that, in this case, she is at peace with the outcome and has appropriate support. It Happens Here ([email protected]) is very happy to signpost to local support services if this case has brought up difficulties for any readers”

The Manager of the Plush Lounge, Stuart Hayle, told Cherwell today that he was ”glad the law has taken its course” and that the victim was ”brought justice”. He wished to add to this his original statement given to Cherwell last October still applied. In this statement Hayle had emphasised that these kinds of attacks were ”extremely rare” and commended Ms. Ryan’s use of ”a revolting and unprovoked attack to try and help others.”

A spokesperson from the University of Oxford issued Cherwell with the following statement concerning the conviction of Abdulrahman Abdelsalam“The University regards violent behaviour as unacceptable. Any student convicted of an offence carrying a possible custodial sentence is automatically referred to the University Proctors.” Abdelsalam‘s account continues to exist on the University’s Nexus email system. 

The Proms: ‘Wouldn’t you simply die without Mahler?’

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On Sunday the 26th of July, Leif ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra completed their four-year collaborative “Beethoven Journey”. Thus this remarkable concert was, in many ways, the culmination of a relationship that has had the time and space to evolve into something quite unique. 

Prom 12 began with Stravinsky’s Octet, scored for an unusual combination of woodwind and brass instruments. The decision to perform this alongside the Beethoven concerti may have been informed by a sense of looking to another musical era, by virtue of the composition’s neoclassical traits; Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto is frequently evocative of Mozart’s concerti for the piano, whilst the grandeur and scale of the 5th concerto anticipates those of Romantic composers, such as Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt. The Octet featured bold, imaginative playing, with particularly memorable performances from the bassoons, especially in the Theme and Variations 2nd movement.

Andsnes then entered the arena with the rest of the orchestra and launched into the 2nd Piano Concerto in B flat major, (confusingly, the first to be composed), meaning that we experienced the beginning and end of Beethoven’s work for this ensemble. As expected, the orchestra was immaculately unified, both in its timing and stylistic approach, with a true sense of intimacy sustained throughout the concert. This was perhaps partly due to the absence of a traditional conductor, whose role was assumed by Andsnes, switching effortlessly between director and soloist. One quite striking consequence of this arrangement was that for the vast majority of the audience, the only sight of Andsnes was from behind. Arguably this provided an experience free from any facial distractions, and for those of us lucky enough to be in close proximity, his hands were a delight to follow. 

Andsnes’ playing revealed a natural balance between power and elegance, and despite the vastness of the Royal Albert Hall, we were drawn into the most exquisite delicate playing.  Breathing freshness into works such as the ‘Emperor’ concerto takes a performer of consummate technical skill, and a mature insight; after performing these pieces in over 55 venues, there remained a clear desire to unearth and share these discoveries with the audience.

As the performance went on the orchestra seemed to become more and more exuberant, and their visible enjoyment was infectious. Encores were almost inevitable as the 6,000-strong, rapturous crowd rewarded the performers’ warm presence. For £5, this inspiring concert was a rare treat.

Scholar, campaigner, South African: Ntokozo Qwabe

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Last week the social rights campaigner and Rhodes Scholar Ntokozo Qwabe graduated with a BCL from Oxford University. Qwabe’s graduation came as a personal triumph after he was forced to drop out of the University of KwaZulu-Natal after his one semester. Rather than abandoning his studies, Qwabe worked as a cashier in Checkers in order to save up money to fund his degree.

Qwabe was later awarded a two-year scholarship from the Mandela-Rhodes Foundation to study in South Africa and to complete a degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Here, he completed a law degree summa cum laude (the highest possible praise given) with 17 commendations and 34 distinctions.

This success led to him attaining a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford, where he completed the BCL.

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Qwabe felt that this scholarship was highly significant in his educational career, telling Cherwell, “as appears in its alumni list, the scholarship remains incredibly elitist and has a long way to go in terms of breaking the cycle of systemic barriers in the way of more black, poor and other marginalised people getting it – both in South Africa and elsewhere.”

Qwabe now intends to complete a Masters degree in Public Policy at Oxford following his graduation. The South African is proud to have attended Oxford University, stating to Cherwell,“it is one of the leading institutions in the world with incredible alumni, with whom I feel privileged to be in the same space.”

Qwabe has now called on Oxford to “walk the talk” in terms of equality and inclusion and describes campaigning for this as a highlight of his time in Oxford. He is a supporter of “movements driving institutional, curriculum and other change at Oxford like CRAE, Black Students Union, Rhodes Must Fall In Oxford, Oxford ProBono Publico etc. Some of these are key in getting Oxford to be a transformed space which fully embraces inclusion as it purports to. The space can feel incredibly elitist and isolating in its cultures and traditions so these movements are important.”

The Rhodes Trust told Cherwell, “Ntokozo Qwabe’s story is hugely inspiring and we hope it will encourage other talented applicants wherever they come from and whatever disadvantages they face. Financial support, as well as candidates’ abilities, makes such stories possible, and so we are working hard to provide as much scholarship funding as possible for all our students.”

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Of his own success Qwabe says, “My mandate it to use that position of privilege to ensure that more people who share my story are able break systemic barriers in the way of them getting to institutions like Oxford.”

The Rhodes Scholar has refused to stay silent on issues concerning inclusion and diversity at Oxford. Qwabe told Cherwell these problems are “why we must love our institutions while challenging them to be better. Doing that has been great – and I look forward to doing more in the coming year.”

Qwabe’s work campaigning across Oxford has not gone unnoticed. Kiran Benipal, Qwabe’s close friend and colleague in various liberation campaigns, described him to Cherwell as, “the greatest guide and mentor for me at Oxford.

“Ntokozo is so much more than the remarkable story being circulated on the web. He is unafraid to voice his opinions and stand up for justice, regardless of whatever circumstances he might find himself in. I always feel blessed to be in his company and to learn from his fantastic mind.”

Guide to the Premier League’s most surprising summer transfers

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A few years ago, a team featuring both Bojan and Xerdan Shaqiri was a dream only possible for fans of Football Manager. Now it seems Europe’s finest are desperate to prove they can do it on a cold Tuesday night at the Britannia. It is no wonder Jose Mourinho thinks this season’s champion’s points total will be lower than usual when Stoke can now boast the same number of Champion’s League winners as his own Chelsea side.The new TV deal in place for the 2016-17 season has given Premier League clubs a bigger incentive than ever to spend big. This is your guide to the Premier League’s most surprising big-money moves this summer.

Petr Cech’s signing means Arsenal have fulfilled their annual quota – buying one of the ‘couple of players they need to become a title-winning side’. This move left many wondering why Jose Mourinho had allowed Cech to move and especially to the team most consider to be their biggest rivals for the title this year. A shaky first week for Cech makes you wonder whether Mourinho knew something the rest of us didn’t. He is an undeniably good keeper but one perhaps on the decline. For the sake of the title race we should all hope he’s still got it.

Robert Firmino’s move to Liverpool for £28 million early on this summer caught everyone by surprise. Comparisons are already being drawn between him and Luis Suarez with Firmino’s game showing the same tenacity and quick feet. However you also can’t help but compare him to Robinho and Anderson – diminuitive Brazilians who never realized their potential in the Premier League. With Daniel Sturridge fit it will be interesting to see how Brendan Rogers sets up his forwards – with proven Premier League strikers in Danny Ings and Christian Benteke while starlet Divock Origi has finally arrived from Lille.

Liverpool may look to Firmino to replace the creativity of Raheem Sterling, whose transfer to Manchester City drew a fair amount of media attention as well, to say the very least. 2 years ago we might have been shocked at Sterling’s £49 million price tag, but in 2015 the transfer saga that made Sterling the most expensive Englishman of all time aged just 20 barely raised an eyebrow. In pre-season at least, Sterling has been looking like the real deal. He will, however, have his work cut out at city if he is to avoid Scott Sinclair’s old seat on the City bench.

Perhaps a bigger surprise was City’s signing of Fabian Delph. This transfer caught the eye after Delph tweeted Villa fans to assure them he had chosen to stay at Villa Park before changing his mind a few days later to sign for Manchester City. Delph is by no means a bad signing especially as he helps City to meet their quota for homegrown players but it is hard to see how he is an improvement on everyone’s favorite utility man James Milner who himself looks set to have much more playing time this year at Liverpool.

A few transfers to the Championship that caught the eye but none more so than Stewart Downing’s return to Middlesbrough.The former West Ham playmaker had one of his best seasons for the hammers last year – showing the talent that football fans have known about for years. An amazing transfer for the Boro – you would think Downing’s partnership with David Nugent will give them the edge in the promotion race after their disappointment last year.

The mid-table sides have already spent big this summer with 3 weeks of the transfer window still remaining. Last summer, Yohan Cabaye was being touted for Arsenal but this year found himself moving for £10 million to Alan Pardrew’s Crystal Palace. Perhaps it was the lure of Alan Pardrew’s personality or maybe his years at Newcastle gave him a taste for the Premier League’s bottom half. Either way, on a reported £100,000 a week this move shows Palace’s ambition and I expect them to build a side round the French international. His ability from set pieces will also be key if Crystal Palace are to improve on last year’s 10th place. Salomon Rondon’s recent signing for West Brom looks to be in the typical Tony Pulis mould. The 6 ft 3 in Venezuelan centre forward signed from Zenit St. Petersburg for £12 million and looks set to slot in up front with the agile Saido Berahino forming an intimidating partnership. With Pulis’ sides notorious for their threat from set pieces, you can expect plenty of headed goals from Rondon this season.

Meanwhile, FIFA 15 players will be aware of Andre Ayew’s talent and this year he gets the chance to prove himself in England with Swansea. He has been quick out of the blocks with 2 goals in 2 games so far he joins a set of pacey forwards at Swansea who will be dangerous on the counter attack this year. Could Ayew be this years Michu?

As ever, the only thing that is predictable is that the league will be unpredictable, and this year’s summer transfers have added an extra level of intrigue leading up to the new season. And that’s exactly what we want.

Video and Theatre

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Anybody with friends in the theatre will have been subject to what I to call the three-step attack.

Step 1) a change in profile picture

Step 2) an invitation to join an event page

Step 3) a barrage of self congratulatory black and white pictures of your friend in rehearsal

In the last few years the theatre-marketing arsenal has developed step 4: video. Previously, video was the domain of the ultra trendy or the ultra well funded. But in the past year it seemed as if almost every show had a trailer. From the depths of the BT midweek 21:30 slot to the Elysian heights of the playhouse, video is becoming the done thing. 

This is an interesting phenomenon seen not only at Oxford. Top-drawer theatres in the UK and around the world have been embracing video by producing trailers for years now. The proliferation of filmed footage is however not only a marketing gimmick. Video and theatre are becoming increasingly symbiotic; their integration may prove to be the distinctive feature of this epoch’s dramatic endeavors. For this reason it is worth pausing to consider what impact it might have on the future of theatre and crucially whether it is a good thing.

Video has of course been around for a while now, but one important thing is entirely novel to this day and age: Accessibility. Previously, if you wanted to have footage in a production, you would find yourself spending money, time and human resources on acquiring and developing celluloid film, let alone projecting it as part of your show. With digital filmmaking this has become quite literally a one-man job.

Take the Hilary Term production of King Lear: On this show the character of the fool swanned around with a camera and filmed parts of the play. This filming was projected live onto a screen at the back of the stage so that we shared in the fool’s recorded memories in real-time on stage. Fifteen, maybe even ten years ago this would have been impossible, especially for a student production. The way digital filmmaking facilitated King Lear shows how much more accessible and consequently much more ambitious the usage of video in theatre can be. 

Wonderful though the democratization of video is, the results have nonetheless been mixed. Sometimes it has seemed as if the directors use it solely by virtue of the fact that they had not been able to use it before. In David Tennat’s Hamlet we see the footage from a video camera he commandeers during the play within a play scene. Why? I’m still not sure. Now that we know what can be done, perhaps we should start to discuss when and why it should be done.

Let’s start by when it shouldn’t be done. I once saw a production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in which the director made the intriguing decision of filming rather than staging Aslan’s murder. This scene was projected and shown in lieu of the actors performing it live .It became apparent that the motivation for video was to more ‘realistically’ depict the scene. But using video solely to render an action ‘believable’ is to terribly misunderstand and condescend on the nature of theatrical artifice. On-stage action is not believable because it resembles reality. Rather, what happens on stage is believable because the language of theatre has a relationship to reality which makes us believe that what is onstage is real. We should remember that film, while it also speaks a language that imitates reality, is not (as some maybe tempted to think) any more real than theatre. This is not to say that cinema does not also have value, it too has its own language that makes the fictional real. To view film as an enhancing supplement to theatrical artifice would predicate the assumption that cinema is inherently more realistic. Of course film, however, is every bit as artificial as theatre and neither is more ‘realistic’ than the other. Both are languages seeking to relate to reality, but neither is more direct or believable in representing it. Using film as supplement to theatre’s supposed ‘unrealism’ is as strange as using live actors in a cinema in order to make the film more believable.

Video can however be used to increase the sense of realism when it is integrated into theatrical language. One great example of this was the National Theatre’s production of the The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Here floor projections were used as a sort of shifting set, representing houses or trains. This worked because the video was used as part of the reality of the play, rather than as a substitute for it. It gave the production huge versatility, as it could create almost any set instantly.

Where we see the most innovative and still ambiguous integration of video and theatre is in the productions in which the action is filmed and projected live during the performance. The filming introduces an alien cinematic idiom but paradoxically in a way that amplifies the theatrical language on stage. I am still not sure what to make of this.

Part of my uncertainty as regards the above use of video is that it goes to the heart of how video both supplements and threatens the way in which theatre invokes reality. It has always been the allure of theatre that it turns the materiality of the real world into that of a story world. Consequently, when the show convinces you, it as if fiction has been made incarnate. Video is incorporeal, it is of a different order to the materiality of theatre. As such video cannot achieve this theatrical materialization of the fictional. For this reason it will be the triumph of future productions if they can create a symbiosis by which the power of theatre remains undiluted by the easy temptations of filmic ‘realism’ while harnessing the possibilities of video, to make theatre all the more material.

Tramlines 2015: On the unbeat‘n’tracks

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Those who donned crochet crop tops had evidently missed the geographical memo – Tramlines Festival 2015 was held beyond Sheffield’s Crookesmoor, not Coachella. Members of the Forever 21 tribe were however, few and far between with the more common sight at this year’s Tramlines being local families and anorak-clad thirty-somethings. I am an ardent supporter of the lesser-known festival; it all feels so much more relaxed. With the sole aim of fun to be had, there is neither the desire nor the need to impress. This is true for artists and audience alike. So, from 24th-26th July, with no hope of starring roles on BBC coverage, all crochet-anklet fantasies were ditched.

Tramlines, now in its seventh year, used to be free, but £30 was really a bargain considering the sheer number of venues and the promising line-up over the weekend. The Charlatans, Basement Jaxx and Buzzcocks headlined, but Ezra Furman and Wu-Tang Clan cancelled last minute. They were swiftly replaced by De La Soul however – heroes considering the panic prompted by this tragic twist in line-up.

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The Charlatans, the first act I saw on Friday, obviously need a mention. These relics of the ‘Madchester’ scene rocked out all the classics, and with the hypnotic hair-swishing of Tim Burgess, the anthemic ‘The Only One I Know’ had a mesmerising effect. It was charming to see kids on their dad’s shoulders, blissfully unaware of the resonance the band – with their psychedelic guitars and Britpop whine – continues to hold for many. Other legendary acts lingered on the horizon and the Queen of Motown herself, Martha Reeves, took to the main stage with her Vandellas on the Saturday.

My summer officially commenced with the jingling bells of ‘Heatwave’, but the real wave was one of pseudo-nostalgia for the sixties I’ll never know. Martha’s god-sent lungs flooded the heart of Sheffield with pure joy. The reverberations of her rich voice and the jubilation of the brass section had the whole park groovin’; it was hard for the residents of nearby blocks of flats not to poke out of windows. An invitation across the nation indeed. Whilst we all shimmied, I realised that Martha makes it all ok; I want her to sit on the UN Security Council and hold my hand during finals. ‘Dancing in the Street’ was even more fantastic than you’d imagine and had me calculating, between soul-boosting verses, on what planet I could fund either tickets to New Orleans or the construction of a time-machine.

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Basement Jaxx were up next and the energy radiating from the stage was nothing short of thrilling. A trippy display of ballet dancers, gorillas and gymnasts fuelled the already high crowd. ‘Red Alert’ and ‘Where’s Your Head At?’ were insane, but to complete the throw-back binge, I wished they’d played ‘Raindrops’. At one point, we were told to sit on the ground, and in defiance of all physical laws, the entire park was able to jump to their feet once more for the drop. Felix Buxton’s DJ set later at Sheffield O2 was far less entertaining, I suppose because I’d had an intense Basement Jaxx session only hours before and visually, the O2 was never going to rival the carnival of the main stage. Buxton followed Mike Skinner’s set which was pretty damn good, but I found this ‘chirpy chappy’ of The Streets had got a bit too cool for my liking. Then again, biting ordinariness and candid colloquialisms have no place in pounding club remixes. He did play ‘Fit But You Know It’ though, which provided silly relief, albeit briefly. I always find DJ sets very weird. You want to be dancing like you’re in a club, in groups, but everyone rigidly faces forward, staring at a rather dull technical show and a shadowy DJ bobbing about in the gloom.

Speaking of gloom, the evening before played host to the most bizarre band I’ve ever seen. One of Sheffield’s favourite night-bars, West Street Live, a magical place of 50p shots and toilet graffiti by people called ‘Bryony’, was hijacked by the blaring uniqueness of Def Goldblum. I’m normally fairly laid-back with the whole tinnitus thing, but Def Goldblum struck a chord, or more likely, an auditory nerve. An alarming fusion of metal and hip-hop (deemed an historical, “inconceivable and never-before attempted” feat by the band) tore through the crowded, unprepared bar. Front man Duke01’s bulging eyes and his band’s SlipKnot-esque masks are still seared across my memory. Duke01 asked the pub how much we’d paid for entry. We yelled back -almost in unison and rather smugly- that it was ‘FREE!’ Def Goldblum then declared they were going to give us our money’s worth. Bemused by thoughts of Duke01 and Martha Reeves performing duo, I was surprised to hear Duke01 champion similar community-spirit vibes. Denouncing “all the shit and war on Facebook”, Duke01 declared West Street Live a strictly ‘good news and good vibes’ zone, so long as he reigned on stage. That, however, signals the end of my comprehension.  I couldn’t tell you a single lyric beyond the bellowed “FILTAR DAH SPECTRUMMM” – not that you’d be able to hear me even if I could. Just listen to them…you’ll get what I mean. 

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 Now, after researching the Nottingham-based band, I realise I missed a lot in their performance. When the Jeff Goldblum pun clicked, shortly before I unearthed an Annie Hall reference in one of their interviews, I suddenly realised this witty Public Enemy-inspired band thrives on popular culture.  “How would sir like his mistakes this evening?” in ‘Eat your Mistakes’ is just one of the many examples of pun-rich lyrics. The tribute, of the band’s name and album title, to the queasy horror sci-fi 1986 remake of The Fly is also apparent in their cover art. And yet, thinking of the performance, there was very little in the way of metamorphoses. The noise was relentless. I can only describe the experience as being wedged beneath the underground tracks while the Morden-bound train storms over you for all eternity. Then again, a stultified Kafka has never been so therapeutic. Those who attempted to dance (all 6 of us) really let off some steam with the 50p shots proving superfluous in loosening inhibitions – Duke01 took care of that. In retrospect, Def Goldblum succeeded: I got the queasiness, the horror, and the sci-fi sense of impending doom and Duke01’s premonition was realised when I stepped out onto the Friday night Sheffield streets. I was met by apocalyptic scenes of strewn polyester chip containers as far my scorched eyeballs could see.

We soon sought refuge in another bar – Bears and Bungalows. It was absolutely rammed full, with this pealing but tingling music playing; the sort used on the soundtrack in arty movies for the bedroom scenes. After Def Goldblum, it was the equivalent of an iced jug of Evian water following the cinnamon challenge. Edging nearer to the bar, I was taken-aback to discover the powerful voice was being produced live by a very petite woman. What I caught of Butterclock’s performance was glittery, like her elbow-long gloves. With the titillating combo of experimental electro baseline and stridently seductive vocals, Laura Clock’s stage name makes perfect sense. There is the regular beating of the clock with the soft echoes of her voice melting like butter into the strong synth beats. There are wisps of Lana Del Rey’s second album ‘Ultraviolence’ with that cute, Lolita-like caterwauling and a lurking darkness behind the sweetness. None of it is very distinctive, but like I said, great background music.

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I was gutted that I had to get home and miss the Sunday line up but I’m comforted to hear that the queue for Billy Bragg was impossible, and I saw the Buzzcocks the weekend after anyway. I’m also miffed that The Sugarhill Gang somehow escaped my radar. Then again, with countless venues (including the city’s cathedral) and my hell-bent mission to sample some new sounds, I’m not too disappointed. A great place to discover fresh acts or long-forgotten ones, I’ll be returning to Tramlines next year when I become tired of my playlists once more. 

 

Surviving in Shanghai: Part 2

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It’s now been six weeks since I arrived in Shanghai and the dreams of home and the ability to walk outside and not feel like I’m in a sauna are just around the corner. Since last month, we’ve really been indulging in the Chinese culture, whether that be in what we eat, the customs we imbibe or the language we learn. Indeed, I can now order a meal and actually get something which vaguely resembles what I requested.

I’m working at the British Chamber of Commerce, a non-for-profit organisation supporting British businesses here in China and I have to say, it’s probably the most varied job I could have wished for. One minute you’re sat behind a desk writing flyers and proofreading (the task every English speaker here seems to have been set) and the next you’re meeting the Consul-General to Shanghai in a five star hotel with canapés circulating around you in a never ending tornado of decadence. You also get to go to business meetings, where there are occasionally freebies, such as the free breakfast we had at Shanghai’s first Pret a Manger a couple of weeks ago!

But Chinese culture continues to baffle me. Particularly the photo taking and the staring, which hasn’t subsided at all. A couple of weeks ago, we went to Hangzhou on a high-speed train, which is around 100 miles from Shanghai, and saw the most beautiful lake before hiking up a hill to a Taoist temple. However, when one of our friends was taking our photo, a lot of locals joined in and took photos of us too. At one point, a queue actually began to form and we were viewed as film stars. But the Chinese are always game for a laugh and are extremely hospitable people so the odd bit of cultural difference is what makes the whole experience worthwhile.

One thing that has astounded me is just how diverse Shanghai is. Some people have a tendency to generalise China and Chinese culture as one entity. But there’s such a vast range of customs and culture here specific to each region with which it’s impossible and flawed to identify all 1.35 billion people. Particularly here, you can find yourself in a church, wandering some back alleyways, visiting a temple and having a drink on a rooftop bar (think Bridge VIP without the darkness or the stench of alcohol) all in the same day and within a few metres of each other.

That obviously leads to a wide variety of cultural insights and many different experiences, even within this little enclave on the eastern edge of China. I’ve seen just about everything from hangouts of the wealthy in Lujiazui, the deeply-rooted traditions of the temples and even a migrant children’s school located in suburbia.

However, one thing that’s always a guarantee wherever you are in Shanghai is that it’s going to very hot, almost insufferably so. One day it reached 53 degrees Celsius, which would have been unimaginable before I came but is actually not too bad for a short amount of time. Indeed, you seem to spend your time searching for air conditioning and bottled water all day long, which takes you on a whistle-stop tour of all the local convenience stores.

Right now, I’m beginning to look forward to home. Although I can still stick it out another week or so before I’ll actually want to go home as we’re just starting to run out of things to do here. I think the best way to describe what we’ve seen would be ‘little bits of everything’. I’m well aware that I’ve only scratched the surface of China, particularly as Shanghai is rather sheltered from the rest of the country, but there has been nothing quite like what I have seen, which has only spurred me on to come back some day.

I’ve occasionally thought whether I could handle life as an expatriate here and there are quite a few  reasons I feel I couldn’t (pollution, the language barrier and the lack of personal freedom.) But the life of the nation’s upper classes sitting outside having alfresco dinners, climbing skyscrapers and going to five star hotels is, of course, very appealing. So I guess it’s not so much a case of whether I’ll come back to China but rather when and where I’ll go.

I’ve never been a reckless person but coming here was a rather whimsical decision. It’s certainly the best impulsive decision I’ve ever made because it’s brought me all this way to perhaps the best city I’ve ever visited. Even though I miss home a lot and am now starting to dream of standing in some fresh air out in the British countryside where there aren’t any skyscrapers, the memories, the laughter and the many insights I’ve received into how China works have equipped with more knowledge than a lecture course at Oxford could ever provide. So I guess you could say this has been the trip of a lifetime, and one that will live long in my mind for many years to come.

If you want to follow my trip in more detail, see my blog at fromshanghaitogermany.wordpress.com.

Interview: tasting heaven with chocolatier Brandt Maybury

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Brandt Maybury arguably has the best job in the world. Working as the Taste Specialist at Green & Blacks, he is paid to eat delicious organic chocolate all day. But at the same time, Brandt’s job is a lot more than taxing than just tingling those taste buds; he helps make people’s lives a little bit better through promoting ethical sourcing and secure prices for cocoa farmers.

It’s tempting to liken Brandt to a modern-day alchemist or Willy Wonka. This is after all a man who spends his days swirling weird and wonderful ingredients into bowls of warm, delicious melted chocolate. His goal; to discover a miraculous new recipe to outdo the unprecedented success of Green & Blacks’ Maya Gold in 1994.

But is this really what its all about, I ask him?

“Being Taste Specialist at Green & Blacks is such a fun job – not just because I get to work with chocolate everyday – but also because of the people I work with and the history of the brand. I feel really proud to be one of the team.”

Tactful. But no information about how much chocolate eating he really gets to do.

I am, however, happy and amazed to find out that chocolate tasting, aka most of the publics’ dream activity, is just as much a refined and skillful art as wine tasting. “First, I inspect the chocolate to make sure it has a good shine and a good snap,” Brandt tells me, “then I have a smell to see what aromas I can detect. I then pop the chocolate in my mouth, break it a few times with, before allowing it to slowly melt to appreciate the flavours and textures – chocolate should always be lovely and smooth, never gritty or chalky.” Chocolate tasting… hmm… could there be a new society on the horizon at Fresher’s fair?

Indulging in Fairtrade Organic chocolate whilst living on a student shoestring budget can be tricky. But Brandt is insistent that it’s worth spending that little bit more on good quality chocolate. Although it is a bit pricier, a bar of premium chocolate lasts the average muncher a lot longer than a bar of Tesco Value: “the higher cocoa content means that most people find a little bit goes a long way.”

But the chocolate doesn’t only last longer- it tastes far better. “Because farmers can’t rely on artificial fertilizers or pesticides, they have to give extra care and attention to their crop,” ensuring that the chocolate really does taste better. And of course, “everything tastes a little bit sweeter, knowing that your money is helping to support Fairtrade farming communities all over the world.”

As well as tasting, Brandt loves to toy with flavours. One of Brandt’s latest inventions is the Salted Caramel THIN bar; perhaps not as crazy as Willy Wonka’s everlasting gobstoppers or chocolate grass. But Brandt is confident that his new flavours, and those on the horizon, will stand the test of time.

“I see other brands going with crazy flavours such as Wasabi, Marmite and Tabasco… however more often than not they tend to be a flash in the pan.”

Brandt’s favourite chocolate (as we speak) and one of my all-time favourites is Spiced Chilli, and I can’t help wondering what exactly it is that make certain unlikely flavours so unbelievably good.

“With over 600 different flavor compounds in cocoa, there are so many things that work well with chocolate. We always think of chocolate as a sweet food because that is how we normally enjoy it. However, it also works well with savory flavours and in savoury dishes. Try finishing off a pot of chilli con carne with a couple of squares of 85% dark chocolate if you don’t believe me and see how surprisingly good it is.”

Finally, I ask Brandt to give me a recipe to satisfy chocoholics with no cooking skills, a busy schedule and a student budget. The wizard of chocolate seemed unphased by the limiting criteria. He gives us the recipe for ‘Sea Water Truffles’: something truly delicious and a little bit different.

 

Ingredients:

 

150g Green & Black’s cooking milk chocolate

100ml water

4g flakey sea salt

100g Good quality cocoa for dusting

 

Method:

 

Break/chop the chocolate in to small pieces. Place in a bowl sat on a set of digital scales. Bring the water and salt to the boil in a small saucepan, and remove from the heat. Pour 45g of the boiled water over the chocolate and mix until smooth. Place in the fridge to set (about 3 hours.)


To make the truffles, use a teaspoon to scoop out pieces of the ganache and place these on to a cool plate. Next, sieve the cocoa powder in to a bowl. Roll a piece of ganache in your hands to the desired shape, and drop in to the cocoa powder. Swirl the bowl around in a circular motion, allowing the truffle to roll in the cocoa powder until fully coated. Repeat with the rest of the truffles (you will eventually get messy hands, but just keep going.)

 

Keep the truffles in the bowl of cocoa powder, placed in the fridge, until ready to serve. Then lightly shake off the excess cocoa powder before serving. These are best eaten within 48 hours.

Park End undergoes rebranding and refurbishment

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Lava & Ignite Nightclub in Oxford has revealed that it will be closing its doors for the final time and undergoing refurbishment before relaunching in time for the start of Michaelmas 2015.

In an announcement on their Facebook page, the nightclub said, “After an amazing few years of memories for thousands of clubbers, the Lava & Ignite party is coming to an end… It’s time we had one massive refurbishment!

“We launch as a brand new venue on Friday 11th September!”

The club will be holding a closing party on the weekend of 22nd August but will remain open until 28th August.

The new venue will be named Atik, with its location confirmed as Cantay House, Park End Street, where Lava & Ignite is currently based.

Lava & Ignite has also been promoting Atik on its Facebook page and sharing a number of Atik’s posts.

Atik stated, “The biggest nightclub in Oxford is having massive investment. We will be refurbishing and rebranding all 5 rooms with the latest sound systems, lights and funky themed bars!”

The regional director of Deltic Group, which owns Atik, Russell Quelch, said in a statement, “Lava & Ignite has been part of the Oxford scene for eight years, but it’s time to put it to rest and create an entirely new experience for today’s clubbers. We are confident that our existing and new customers will really enjoy the look and feel of Atik.

“With three distinct dance rooms, the club will cater for all tastes. For retro fans, Vinyl will feature an illuminated dance floor playing pop classics, the main dance room, Atik, will offer the very best in light and sound technology and Curve will have an R&B vibe. A new tiki inspired bar, Lualalai, will serve a wide range of specialist cocktails and treasure chest sharers as well as host cocktail making parties. Table service will also be more widely available with the addition of 18 VIP booths.

“We are going to raise our game, whilst not alienating our core audience,” added Russell.  “We will still have mid-week student nights and hope to attract a more local audience at the weekend. With a line-up of internationally acclaimed DJs and celebrity appearances, we are confident that Atik will be a big hit!”

It also appealed for staff for the new club for “a fantastic new team”, although both clubs are yet to confirm whether there is to be a complete overhaul of staff and bouncers. Staff at the venue have come under criticism by university students in the last academic year over allegations of homophobia.

Atik, which described itself as “the fastest growing nightclub company in the UK” said, “
We are recruiting for a number of positions these include Hosts 
[and] Bar Staff
… Previous experience is not necessary, all we require is people with the right attitude.

Lava & Ignite and Atik have both been contacted for comment.

Oxford conservation donor counters pro-hunting accusations

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An Oxford University conservation unit responsible for tracking lions has responded to allegations that it accepted donations from a pro-hunting organisation.

Since the reportedly illegal killing of a lion, Cecil, that was being tracked by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), donations to the unit have topped half a million pounds, founder and Director Professor David Macdonald told Cherwell on Monday.

Oxford alumnus and US philanthropist Dr Tom Kaplan added to the funds, pledging on July 31 to match up to $100,000 in donations made to WildCRU. Dr Kaplan is the founder of field conservation group Panthera, and made his fortune investing in precious metals.

Following the pledge, Professor Macdonald told Cherwell, “Dr Kaplan and his wife, Daphne, have been wonderful supporters of WildCRU, and I am deeply grateful. In the context of big cat conservation, he is the greatest living philanthropist”.

However, WildCRU faced accusations of receiving funds from pro-hunting organisations after a blog post by Panthera Executive Vice-President Dr Luke Hunter surfaced on Tuesday.

In the blog post, Dr Hunter writes, “Just as strong, empirical science has shown that over-hunting is bad for lions, it also demonstrates that hunting can be sustainable […] Hunting survives because hunters are usually more tolerant of hardship, and they pay extraordinary sums – up to $125,000 – to shoot a male lion. The business requires only a handful of rifle-toting visitors to prosper which, in principle, helps protect those areas”. 

He continues, “Let me state it again; I think sport hunting big cats is repellent and I would welcome its demise. But my personal distaste for hunting won’t help lions if shutting it down removes protection from African wilderness”.

In response to the accusations made toward Panthera, Dr Kaplan told Cherwell in an interview, “Luke Hunter has done more for lion conservation across its range than anyone I know. Luke and I started Project Leonardo, which is the only range-wide program for the conservation of the African lion. To see him labelled as pro-hunting is absurd.”

When queried about Panthera’s view on sustainable trophy hunting, Dr Kaplan said, “No organisation in the world is doing more to protect big cats. It is now the largest NGO that focuses solely on big cat conservation. None of us like hunting big cats. None of us advocate hunting. Although, professionally, conservationists have to face the reality that lions are hunted for trophies, personally we can’t relate to it, it’s not in our DNA. It goes against everything that motivates us in our passion for conserving wildlife.”

Professor Macdonald also expressed WildCRU’s stance on sustainable trophy hunting, stating, “Modern conservation is highly inter-disciplinary – biology is necessary but not sufficient. Ultimately it is about how society wishes to live alongside wildlife, hopefully for the well-being of both. We are an evidence-based organisation, not an advocacy one, so we strive to provide the evidence that informs policy and mitigates the conflicts between people and wildlife”.

Dr Kaplan and Professor Macdonald began working together when WildCRU was founded in 1986, in what Dr Kaplan describes as a “rewarding relationship”, to focus lion conservation efforts within Hwange National Park, where Cecil was killed. At first, Professor Macdonald experienced conflict with the Zimbabwean government on matters of hunting law and policy, but Dr Kaplan claims that “WildCRU have proven themselves to be excellent at proving scientifically the effects of hunting, thereby mitigating its effects, and even changing the laws.

“Look at what they’ve done in Zimbabwe. In the early 2000s, the lion quota [limiting the number of lions that were legally allowed to be hunted] in the concessions around Hwange was 60. WildCRU’s science resulted in a hunting moratorium for three years, after which the revised quota was four.”

Dr Kaplan, stressing his view of the importance of the work done by both organisations, continued, “If you strip out the emotion, the most important aspect of this whole discussion is that it is highlighting the really unknown story of the imperilled nature of the African lion. People assume that because they’re social animals and allow themselves to be seen, that they are ubiquitous. A century ago there were 200,000 lions; now we’re maybe down to 20-30,000.

“An example of how this cat is ‘disappearing in plain sight’ is the data that was collected in West Africa, where we were told there were 21 areas where lions were thriving. When Project Leonardo’s study was released a year ago, there were only four areas in which they existed at all, and only one area in which there were more than 50 lions.”

Both Dr Kaplan and Professor Macdonald expressed their belief in the positive outcomes that could arise from the public outcry over Cecil’s death. Dr Kaplan told Cherwell, “We need to take the interest that has gone viral, and turn it into a movement. The leading players in this field, Panthera, WildCRU and others, should converge into a partnership so they can express both the current state of the lion population, and concrete ways in which the decline can be reversed. In this way, the spirit that has been unleashed from Cecil’s sad fate, and the renewed donor interest, can be translated into an enduring and sustainable victory for conservation”.

Professor Macdonald stated, “While the illegal death of Cecil was a tragedy, our hope is that something good will come of it. I think the extraordinary reaction around the world transcends concern for Cecil, or even just for lions, but reveals that millions of people care about wildlife, the environment and how people are to live alongside the nature on whose ecosystem services we all depend”.