Danish Winter

Frankie Pinchard on 15 December 2023

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway all rank high in the global happiness index, reporting high feelings of community, social support, safety, and generosity. It seems that in Scandinavia they have figured out the secret to being happy, and everyone wants it.  

When I arrived in Copenhagen in the height of summer, it did not surprise me in the slightest that Scandinavian countries ranked so high in terms of contentment. Danish people pay high taxes and are therefore entitled to free healthcare, childcare and university. But more than that, Danish summers consist of long days with hours of sunshine; you can’t help but want to be outside.  

Picture this, I lived a ten-minute cycle from the beach, and was enjoying weeks of sunshine that showed no signs of ending. The sun did not set until 10pm and when it did, it left an orange dusk that could be enjoyed for hours. The novelty of riding a bicycle around a new city had not worn off, (I’ll let you know if it does [update: it is 0 degrees]) especially when riding into a soft breeze which had the pleasant effect of cooling you down on a hot day. It seemed obvious to me why the Danes were so happy, anyone would be! 

Now it is December, and that picture looks very different. The downside of living near the beach (in fact, living on an island) is that whichever direction you cycle in, the wind is against you. This has made getting places a little trickier. The sun sets at 3pm and does not rise again until 9am, and it is starting to get very, very cold.  

So, one day, I asked my Danish professor: “How do the Danes stay happy when it’s cold and dark and rainy?” In my head, the weather dictated everyone’s mood, and I could not understand why everybody still seemed to be getting about their lives like nothing had changed.  

The answer was very simple and very Danish, “We just accept it”. Perhaps a little unhelpful, she later explained that accepting it meant a few different things, but mostly centred around this idea of hygge, which means cosiness. For example, candlelit dinner with a few friends could be described as hyggelig. But hygge can also be slowness, simplicity, and comfort. Coming from Simone, the certified Dane in my life, hygge is: “candles, warm sweaters, fireplace and such – I’m always happy to be able to wear my sweaters and coats again and – hyggestrømper (fuzzy socks)!” 

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday students come to the most popular spot: Bastards Café to drink cheap beer and play over 5000 different games with each other. To me, board games remind me of arguments at Christmas with my family, however, the Danes can make anything seem cool, and social events taking place in cosy, warm bars playing wholesome board games is very hygge. 

Globally, nobody uses as many candles as the Danes. Christmas celebrations start early in Copenhagen. The city at night is illuminated with metres and metres of string lights, and it is a good rule of thumb to never turn on the main light.  

Winter bathing is the act of voluntarily going swimming in winter and (if possible) getting in a sauna straight afterwards. In Copenhagen, the harbour is a very popular place to swim all year round, but my favourite place to go is Amager Strandpark Beach. The sandy beach is over a mile long and on a clear day you can see all the way to Sweden.  

The idea of hygge is idealised outside of Denmark as this perfect recipe for dealing with the cold and dark. Yet many of the Danes I spoke to accurately described the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder and often sighed and explained that they just wait until Spring when they feel happy again. It is not a one-size fits all. 

However, there are a few things I have picked up in Copenhagen as the days have gotten shorter. I have promised myself that this year I will embrace the cold and darkness, wrap up warm in my hyggestromper, and maybe even brave a swim in zero degrees! 

Empowering Integration: Inside RETAS’ Journey with Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Ioana Gradinaru on 14 December 2023

In a bustling and multicultural city like Leeds, RETAS stands as a beacon of hope and integration for asylum seekers and refugees. Founded in 2002, RETAS embarked on a mission to be a guiding force in the social and economic development of these individuals, not just within Leeds, but beyond. Driven by a commitment to facilitate integration, RETAS provides an array of comprehensive services, including access to employment, education, language classes, health and well-being support, and creative skill programs. Their holistic approach encompasses the entire journey of asylum seekers, from initial arrival to settlement, encouraging self-sufficiency and community integration.

Alongside Hayworth Harrison, a student volunteer for RETAS, I sat down with the team to discuss their journey and evolution.

“RETAS was established back in 2002 and at the time we were one of the first charities and our mission is to work and support the social and economic development of asylum seekers and refugees in the region, not just in Leeds” says Roger Nyantou, the CEO of RETAS. The core aim was clear—to facilitate integration into society by enabling access to employment and education, and by supporting community inclusion. Over the years, RETAS’ growth has been marked by its commitment to this vision.

Initially starting with two staff members, RETAS has since grown to a team of 28, signifying the expanding scope and impact of their work. Their evolution mirrors the changing landscape of asylum seekers and refugees in Leeds. “The nature of the individuals seeking our support has changed,” Roger notes. “Initially, you had people who were highly qualified coming to the UK, now you get people who are not even literate in their own language.” This proved to be a challenge, which led them to start offering IELTS classes (International English Language Testing System) in order to help professionals like doctors, teachers or university students get their qualifications and enable them to work in the UK, but also to help people achieve English proficiency.

The journey of an asylum seeker begins with RETAS upon their arrival in the UK. Accommodated in hotels or shared spaces, these individuals often encounter an array of challenges until they get refugee status. “We offer health and well-being support, language classes, and creative skills programs, so that they can integrate within the community until they get refugee status,” explains Yasir Mohammed, the Volunteer Service Manager. This process is called the “Welcome to Leeds Project.” Once granted refugee status, RETAS’ “28-day project” commences, extending financial assistance to help them open a bank account, guidance on accessing welfare support like Universal Credit, and housing aid through partnerships with Leeds City Council and other providers. They also have employment and education support, as Yasir points out: “once people are settled, they have a house, now they start thinking about work and going to University or joining a college and we have advisors for support with that. He also explains that with RETAS they go through the entire process from refugee to integration in community which makes them a unique organization in West Yorkshire.

RETAS is a robust and inclusive community, striving for a diverse volunteer pool that reflects the multifaceted needs of their service users. With an emphasis on integrating into the local community, they seek volunteers for administrative roles, learning assistance, social media engagement, and fundraising. Their dynamic approach, incorporating placement students from the University of Leeds and involvement in finance, provides a holistic environment that welcomes volunteers from various backgrounds. 

The organization values the transformative power of volunteering, emphasizing that approximately 80-85% of their staff were once volunteers themselves. Both Yasir and Roger’s journeys from service users to staff members highlights the extensive career development opportunities RETAS offers. 

Through education and engagement, they aim to break down societal barriers, challenging stereotypes and fostering integration. Lorna Gray, the Fundraising and Communications manager, talked more about the activities included in the “Welcome to Leeds Project.” They do all sorts of activities such as beach cleaning, yoga, and rock climbing, which aim to provide holistic support beyond the office space. This multifaceted approach, while showcased partly on social media, is just a glimpse into the comprehensive services RETAS offers to asylum seekers and refugees.

Leila Gurnah, the Curriculum Manager, talked about the types of volunteers they need and how they could support RETAS. They are always searching for people that might be interested in teaching English, whether they are interested in a placement or just want to get some hands-on experience. This way, RETAS can explore more ways in which to help their service users and how they can help them get into University.

Despite plans for expansion, RETAS remains committed to its roots. Whilst exploring potential expansions to other cities, their primary focus is on consolidating their existing services and ensuring quality support before scaling. Their vision for the future intertwines with the needs of those they support, pivoting and evolving in tandem with the evolving landscape of refugee policies and needs. Through partnerships with universities and communities, RETAS aims not only to offer support but also to empower individuals to become advocates and allies in the integration process.

RETAS is now organizing a raffle until January 2nd. All donations go towards supporting refugees and asylum seekers. A single entry is £5 and a double is only £8. If you’d like to support them and enter the race for some lovely prizes from Bundobust, Eat Your Greens, Noonchi Cake, HiFi Comedy Club, Junkyard Golf and more, visit their crowdfund here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/retas-raffle

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: It’s Time to Act

Claudia Watson on 25 November 2023

Violence against women has no textbook definition. It’s not always a fight in the street, shouting from the house next door, or obvious injuries. It doesn’t recognise age or race, it’s not confined by borders, and it doesn’t depend on financial status or education. Violence against women is a threat to all women, and a problem for everyone.

November 25th is observed yearly, as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The date was chosen in honour of Patria, Minerva, and María Mirabal, three sisters who were violently murdered on November 25th, 1960, for their underground movement opposing dictator Rafael Trujillo and his brutal regime. The day honours the strength and bravery of every woman who has experienced violence and encourages unified action against it.

The theme for International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women 2023 is, ‘UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.’ The campaign asks individuals what they are doing to take action and calls upon governments to invest in the prevention and eradication of gender-based violence. November 25th is preceded by ’16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’, a global campaign established by the United Nations, and running until December 10th, Human Rights Day.

The United Nations estimates that globally, “736 million women —almost one in three”, have experienced physical and/or sexual violence on at least one occasion. Most of the violence faced by women is at the hands of intimate, or former intimate partners, and on average in 2020, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, a woman or girl was killed by a family member once every 11 minutes. In the UK, data presented by the National Centre for Domestic Violence states that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, with Office for National Statistics figures reported by the BBC, revealing that between September 2020 and September 2021, an overwhelming 40,572 women were victims of sexual assault, and 41,332 were victims of rape.

In 2017, the #MeToo movement commanded the attention of the world, inspiring important discussion, and investigation into violence against women. The campaign, first founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke, went viral, after American producer Harvey Weinstein’s years of manipulation and sexual abuse within the film industry were uncovered. The widespread coverage over social media encouraged victims from all around the world to come forward, sharing their own experiences of violence and abuse and spreading a powerful message; enough was enough.

Unfortunately, despite global conversation and movements to eradicate gender-based violence, simply being born a woman puts you in danger. The murders of Sarah Everard, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa, to name just three, are a terrible reminder of this fact. Every day, in every country, women are forced to change their actions, routes, or behaviours, just to make it back home safely, and sometimes even that is not enough.

In conversation with British Vogue, barrister Harriet Johnson discusses the case of Sarah Everard, and what it tells us about the world we live in.

“It’s because it wasn’t [that] late at night, she wasn’t drunk, she wasn’t flirting with anybody, she wasn’t dressed provocatively…

It’s impossible for women to make themselves smaller than that. And once you recognise that it is impossible for women to make themselves small enough to not be vulnerable to that kind of violence, then you recognise that the problem isn’t women and the burden [of staying safe] shouldn’t be on women.”

In Leeds, despite multiple petitions to persuade the council to place streetlights in Woodhouse Moor, the quickest, and most direct route home for most university students, today after 5pm, the park will sit pitch black and dangerous. How many more women need to get hurt for something to change?

So, what can you do?

In Leeds, you can attend university society, Students Against Sexual Harassment and Assault, also known as ‘SASHA’’s, clay-making session, to discuss victims taking back their power, and the day’s importance. The session will be led by Welfare Officer, Lauren Royall, at 4pm, Wednesday 22nd November, in Room 1 LUU (tickets to be released on Engage on Monday the 20th). Lauren and other SASHA committee members will be available to help direct anyone requiring support or resources.

Online, you can take action by joining the global movement and sharing #NoExcuse via social media, as well as by spreading the word about any initiatives local to you. You can also head to SASHA’s social media (@sasha_uol) to find signposting to help and resources, and information on how to get involved beyond the 25th of November.

As mentioned, the theme this year is, ‘UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls’, so one of the best things you can do is get out into your local community and see how they’re working to protect women, and what you can do to help. Whether you donate money, clothes, or possessions, or choose to volunteer your time to local charities and organisations, everybody can make a difference.

November 25th is a day to celebrate all of the incredible work being done worldwide, to protect, empower, and support women, but it’s important that we also recognise just how far there is to go. Change starts with conversations, challenging behaviour, and listening to victims. Everyone has a part to play, every day, not just on November 25th.

Together, we can eradicate gender-based violence, and make the world a safe place for women.

For help and support:

Women’s Aid Website: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/

Refuge 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Leeds Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service: scw@leeds.ac.uk , 0113 343 4107

Leeds Harassment and Misconduct Team: reportandsupport@leeds.ac.uk

It’s time to grow up about STIs at University

Elle Richardson on 22 November 2023

I’m in a random classroom in my secondary school, aged fifteen. Our health educator/school counsellor/behavioural coordinator is a man named Phil. He has a goatee and a high ponytail. He shows us how to put a condom on a banana. He shows us pictures of genital warts. He answers the questions we have posted into a painted Clarks shoe box. Most of them are innuendos or crude drawings.

Back then, I found the whole thing deeply embarrassing. It felt far away from real life. The pictures of sexually transmitted infections that Phil put up on the whiteboard were nauseating, and everyone at my school stayed a good six feet apart for the rest of the week.

As it turns out, my school had a much more comprehensive sexual education programme than most. In a 2022 poll by the Sex Education Forum, just one in five students surveyed said they had the ‘opportunity to ask [their] questions and get answers’. A shocking 46% of students didn’t discuss the topic of sexual pleasure at all, and third of those polled didn’t learn about how to access their local sexual health services. By learning about sex in a clinical and restrictive way, students don’t learn about having a safe and healthy sex life. 

Only 27% of students agreed, in this 2020 survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute, that their sexual education prepared them for sex and relationships at University. Nearly half (49%) of the LGBTQ+ students questioned said that their education was ‘not at all relevant’ to their experiences. This drops to 16% when disabled students were asked, with the vast majority of disabled students reporting that their sex education was not relevant to their disability.

It’s easy to see how this lack of education can translate into unsafe sexual practices at University. Cases of STIs are rising with no sign of slowing down. The UK Health Security Agency found that there were nearly 400,000 cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in England in 2022. Gonorrhoea cases had risen by 50% from the previous year, alongside a 24% increase in chlamydia and a 15% increase in syphilis.

STIs are particularly common within student communities, yet there is still a profound stigma surrounding STIs and STI testing. I met with Megan, Vice President of Sexpressions Leeds, a charity offering relationships, sex and health education. Sexpressions is seeking to use education to combat the stigma and lack of awareness around sexual health.

Megan has found that the stigma around STIs is particularly prevalent among straight men. Groups of male students are often unwilling to discuss sexual health without turning to humour. Megan has found that ‘the stigma is there and [some cisgender] men really do keep the stigma alive‘. The Sexpressions Freshers Fair stall ‘was really busy, only because it was funny’ and made allusions to female masturbation. ‘The amount of men we had come over [to the stall] was insane, but the amount of men we’ve had at training is 0%’.

Megan has found, however, that peer-led discussions of sexual health do encourage students to open up: ‘When I’ve done discussion sessions before, it’s always worked better when it is a discussion, not someone older talking down to you‘. Sexpressions is working on building a supportive place for peer conversation.

They are launching the #bestifyoutest campaign, offering advice that is tailored for Leeds. The campaign is running until the end of December and is encouraging people to access free STI tests. The campaign is being run in collaboration between Sexpression:UK and Yorkshire MESMAC to encourage students to access free STI tests, attend talks and join peer support sessions.

Another initiative is the ‘Works for Me’ campaign, which promotes different types of contraception, with the NHS opening up the Leeds Student Medical Practice on Saturdays to help students find a form of contraception that works for them.

Students need to confront the ever-increasing rates of STIs, and sexually active students should test regularly. The vast majority of STIs can be fully treated if they are caught early, and it is always better to know. If you have had unprotected sex, it doesn’t have to lead to shame or stigma. STIs are a part of university life just as much as Freshers hangovers and overflowing bins; there is no point hiding from them.

Sexpressions Leeds is open to society collaborations and to offering training. They are working to overcome the stigma to make students aware of more resources. As Megan put it, as much emphasis should be put on sexual health as on ‘physical health because it is that.’ 

Sexpressions can be found on Instagram at @SexpressionsLeeds.

For more information about free sexual health testing in Leeds, visit https://www.leedssexualhealth.com/.

We Will Remember Them: Remembrance in 2023 

Eleanor Thompson on 12 November 2023

Every year in November we see news presenters, public figures and the public don a red poppy, signalling a period of remembrance. This poppy-wearing tradition is more than a century old – so why is it still honoured today? 

Remembrance Day takes place on the Sunday closest to the 11th of November every year (this year it is on the 12th of November). It is held in commemoration of the Armistice truce reached on the same date in 1918, signalling the end to what most historians agree was one of the bloodiest conflicts in recorded history – World War I. As this conflict was so horrifying, as well as the Second World War which involved almost every part of the globe from Britain to China and the Soviet Union to name a few, it is easy to see the scale of loss and devastation war causes, with Britannica estimating that there were between 35,000,000-60,000,000 total deaths during World War II, including innocent civilian lives. Whilst the poppy has evolved over the years, it remains a symbol for the huge loss of life in this conflict, as poppies grew in the disturbed soil in the battlefields after the war, and a way to give thought to all the people who have died in or have been affected by different wars and conflicts across the world, right up to present day.

There seems to have been a move, certainly in recent years, to highlight the inclusivity of remembrance without eulogising war or under-representing the many different countries who participate, with The British Legion stating that “remembrance does not glorify war” and that it aims to “unite people of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds”. It was the case in the past, and some argue still today, that when remembering World Wars I and II in particular; white, male and British soldiers fighting on the western front in France and Belgium were overrepresented and dominated the narrative in the media and in education. Efforts in the past few years to diversify this view and cultivate a more multi-dimensional, developed understanding of these conflicts will hopefully continue, such as moves to decolonise the curriculum and the telling of wartime stories of those previously forgotten or neglected in remembrance.  

Josh Losh put forward in his essay ‘Britain’s Abandoned Black Soldiers’ that in World War II, “Britain paid its soldiers not only according to their rank and length of service but also their ethnicity”, and it is information such as this which should be remembered, moving away from a narrative that erases certain groups of people from history and embracing the raw facts of war and the hard experiences of every individual. Learning about personal stories from individuals, such as Hélène Podliasky, who led a resistance of nine women to escape a Nazi death march in 1945, are just as important as the broader picture, with 2.6 million Indian troops fighting in World War II. Teaching, talking and learning about diverse and widespread conflicts, such as this one, and its impact on people that are still alive today, is not only essential in understanding the importance of remembrance in 2023, but also for its continuation. 

Remembrance also exists as a way for people nowadays to learn from humanity’s biggest devastations and not let these horrors happen again. However, today there are still many conflicts going on all around the world and causing mass desolation. The one that is dominating social media right now is the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which over ten thousand civilians in the Gaza strip have been and are being brutally killed, including children. People doing what they can to stop and prevent horrors like this from happening is so important, and not letting history keep on repeating itself time and time again is crucial in the act of remembrance.  

Every year on the 11th of November at 11am, cannons are fired, trumpets are played, and a two-minute silence commences. Whilst for some people doing this would be almost impossible, especially in lines of work such as urgent care, these two-minutes are there to allow people to have a quiet moment of reflection and a moment to remember the sacrifices made by so many, and the suffering endured by millions. 

Social media warriors are wading in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – and it’s harmful for everyone

Katie Hudson on 24 October 2023

The events which have unfolded over the past few weeks are heartbreaking and devastating for all those involved. The loss of life and human rights violations which we have seen in the news bear a heavy weight upon readers and the journalists alike. Naturally, being such a heavily politicised topic, we all have something to say about it – and while political debate is healthy and to be encouraged, sharing deeply misinformed commentary in a sudden spur of passion is not.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a recent phenomenon – it has a deeply complex history which can be traced back to before the First World War. In 1917 Britain liberated Palestine from the Ottoman Empire – establishing the British Mandate of Palestine, and promised Palestinians the future establishment of an independent Arab state. Although no formal declarations were ever made, British correspondence with Arab leaders between 1915-1916 implied that Palestine would be included. Less than two years later, Britain’s 1917 Balfour Declaration formally promised the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the state of Palestine.

It is here the main problem arises – the British promised Palestine to both Palestinians and to Jewish people as a new homeland. By 1918 these conflicting hopes were backed by strong nationalist movements – Palestinian Nationalism and Zionism.

Throughout the British Mandate period, Palestine experienced significant population growth – from increases in Palestine’s indigenous population as well as Jewish migration. Competition for land ownership amongst an increasing population heightened nationalist tensions, and in some cases led to riots and ethnic violence. Because the British Mandate of Palestine was always intended to be a temporary measure of governance, the United Nations (UN) devised UN Resolution 181 – the partition plan for Palestine. This called for the division of Palestine into one Jewish and one Arab state – a controversial idea which led to a catastrophic war between Palestinians and Jews in 1948.

This brings us to the present day. For decades the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been centered around the struggle for statehood and national identity. It is a conflict concerning ethnic national identity, not a conflict of religion. There is no place for antisemitism. There is no place for islamophobia.

More and more of us are using social media to access the news. A survey from statista.com breaks down just how reliant we have become on social media – 78, 65, 61, and 55 per cent of respondents from Nigeria, Chile, Greece, and Hong Kong respectively use social media to access the news. Granted, not all of these respondents entirely trust what they view – however, they continue to access the news in this way. In countries including Poland, Croatia, and Portugal, over 50 per cent of adults admitted to getting their news from social media.

As we become increasingly dependent on social media for our political education, it is vital that what we share and view is based on fact not fiction.

Designated a terrorist group by the European Union, Canada, the United States, Israel, Japan, and Egypt – the Islamist militant organisation ‘Hamas’ is not representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas may have won the parliamentary elections in Gaza in 2006, however, no free elections have taken place there since. The most recent poll from July 2023 found that 70% of Gazans would prefer the governance of Palestinian Authority (PA) which is a governing body under the secular political party of ‘Fatah’.

The portrayal of recent events in Palestine and Israel on social media is worrying. Supporting Hamas’ attack on Israel as they murder, rape, and abduct Israeli men, women, and children is not being pro-Palestine – it is being antisemitic. Supporting the Israeli government’s retaliation as it bombs innocent civilians and terminates vital supplies of electricity, gas, water, and food in Palestine is not being pro-Israel – it is being anti-Palestinian.

When we partake in supporting these narratives on social media, this encourages prejudice against people in our communities, and it brings about very real consequences. When political activism pages with thousands of followers on social media advocate these antisemitic or anti-Palestinian beliefs, it emboldens people of all ages and of all beliefs to justify and act upon their prejudices. Since Hamas’ first attack in Israel, the UK has seen 89 reported cases of antisemitic behaviour, with 50 reported from London alone – including the appearance of an image of Adolf Hitler on a wall in central London.

The mindless reposting of infographics on social media without taking the care to fact-check them first sustains this seemingly endless cycle of hatred, prejudice, discrimination, and violence. Remaining politically engaged is our best chance at living in a more peaceful world, but ultimately, we will not achieve this if we continue sitting behind our screens, posting carelessly.