Skinny shaming...?

I've heard a lot recently about the idea of 'skinny shaming' and I felt like I needed to comment. First of all, I do not think it is acceptable to shame anyone for their body type. I am all about body positivity. It is never okay to make someone feel bad about their body. That is why this is a difficult topic to approach.

When Nicki Minaj released 'Anaconda' and Meghan Trainor came out with 'All About That Bass,' skinny girls everywhere got angry. Lyrics that explicitly put down skinny women and celebrated bigger women annoyed people. I get that.

But, fat women do have a much harder time being accepted in society. I have been skinny and fat. When skinny, I was always told by friends that I looked good. When fat, I am told about diets and workout routines that I could try. Nobody stared at me when I was eating in public when I was skinny but they do now. With clear disgust. People are often explicitly and openly repulsed by a fat woman, it's not so common with a skinny woman.

So while women are shamed for their bodies all the time, fat or thin, we have to acknowledge that the discrimination is not on the same level. I wish I did not have to talk about this, I wish that we lived in a world where people looked beyond body shapes but unfortunately, that's not the case. Quite frankly, it annoys me to hear skinny women saying 'oh but we experience the disgust too!' Yes, sometimes you do however, your body type is in magazines and on movie screens all of the time and society as a whole accepts it as normal and okay. Whereas, fat women are mostly viewed in a negative way. While you, as a skinny woman, may have experienced individual cases of body shaming, fat women experience it on a much larger and deeper scale.

Fat women are rarely seen as beautiful by society so if some artists are going to bring out songs celebrating them then let them have it!

Ultimately, we all need to know and accept that body shaming is never okay. In order to do this we have to acknowledge that 'skinny shaming' and 'fat shaming' are very different things.

This is what a feminist looks like...

You've probably seen/heard about these t-shirts that have emerged recently, modelled here by Ed Milliband and Nick Clegg:

There are so many issues that I have with these t-shirts. First and foremost, they seem to be attempting to address the myth that all feminists look like ugly, hairy witches. It appears that many people think feminists must all be ugly so cannot get boyfriends and are therefore, angry at men. Anyone with common sense can realise that this is bullshit without having to see these t-shirts. They are completely unnecessary.

Secondly, there are far more pressing issues that need to be addressed by feminism! The movement largely does not care if people think we're all hideous looking, most of us are more concerned with important issues affecting women around the world. So again these t-shirts are pointless. How about we put time into changing things for women instead of just putting t-shirts on public figures?

On top of this, it is another way to try and make feminism into something fashionable. Fuck that. Feminism is a political movement looking to secure equality for all women across all classes, races, sexualities all around the world. Magazines and designers need to stop trying to use it as something trendy. Because it is so much more than that. It should not be a fashion statement to claim to be a feminist. I have no issue with celebrities advocating feminism but if they are doing it as an attempt to fit in then they can fuck off. There are women everywhere dealing with inequality of gender and it should not be used to sell products of capitalism. Stop trying to make money from a really important movement.

The whole issue with David Cameron refusing to wear one of these t-shirts came from ELLE magazine. Don't get me wrong, it is great that a widely read magazine has a feminist issue on sale. But this is also a magazine, like most of them, that primarily tries to sell beauty products to women. The beauty and fashion industries make billions from women's low self esteem. This is obviously not okay. It is important that women's magazines address feminism however, we must remember that their primary function is to advertise an industry which is widely known for making women hate themselves and that is very anti-feminist.

It also seems to be men wearing these for the most part. I have no problem with men supporting feminism. However, it is a movement started for and by women. Feminism has achieved a lot with very little support from men. Women's rights movements do not need men to be successful but yes, the more support a movement has, the more likely it is to progress. It is important to remember that while these middle aged white men might claim to support feminism, they have no idea what it is like to be a woman. So their support is nice but it is more important that women are involved.

It gets worse.

There are now claims that these t-shirts were made in a very anti-feminist way. Claims have been made by female workers earning 62p an hour. If these claims are proved to be true then it just rounds off the whole fiasco with these t-shirts. Wearing one does not prove you are a feminist, refusing to wear one (as David Cameron did) does not show you are against equality. They are just pieces of material with slogans on them that are looking to show that anyone can be a feminist... something most people already know.

Laxative abuse

Potentially triggering for eating disorders.

When most people think of eating disorders, they think about someone starving themselves, making themselves sick and being really thin. However, eating disorders are a lot more complex than this. A further issue that is becoming more common in eating disorders is the use of laxatives.

Many of you might think that using laxatives seems a bit strange so why do people with eating disorders do this? Some people think that it will help them lose weight. For me, I enjoyed the empty feeling that taking laxatives gave me. I personally could never make myself vomit. But, laxatives were easy to get and although I knew that they did not stop me from absorbing calories, that feeling of emptiness was good for me. Laxatives help get rid of any retained water and that lowers the number on the scale. For someone suffering with an eating disorder, that is perceived as a great thing.

My laxative abuse started off by taking the recommended dose whenever I felt bloated. However, it soon got out of control. My body got used to the laxatives so I started taking more and more often. It was one of the hardest parts of my recovery. My body was used to being aided like this. It did not help that I was then diagnosed with IBS. When my IBS causes horrible constipation, I cannot take laxatives to help it. When you stop taking laxatives, you tend to get bloated and the eating disorder voices in your head convince you that this translates as getting fat/putting on weight. It takes a lot of strength to stop abusing laxatives, to recognise that this bloating is temporary and that your body can live without them.

So this all sounds really difficult and horrible, right? Yes but I am one of many examples that it is possible to stop abusing laxatives. Here's some advice:

• Remember that laxatives do not make you lose actual weight. They simply dehydrate your body which sometimes resembles losing weight.
• Laxatives can cause dehydration, bloating, electrolyte imbalances and a variety of health problems. Remember that recovery is about taking care of your health.
• Get rid of any laxatives you have in the house.
• Talk to your doctor or a friend, get some support.
• Take each day as it comes and be proud of your progress, do not beat yourself up if you slip up at all.
• Depending on how long you have been abusing them, you may have to reduce them gradually. Assess the best way for you to stop this, everyone is different.
• Drink lots of water and eat lots of fibre, it will eventually stop the bloating and stop your body's reliance on laxatives.

Beat, the UK's leading eating disorder charity, is currently seeking to address the problem of laxative abuse. They are calling for the sale of laxatives to be better regulated. This is so important. If laxatives are more difficult to access then less people will have the chance to take them. Take a look at what Beat is aiming for.

Currently MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) claim that they recognise the problem but do not believe that sales restrictions would be appropriate. I disagree. If laxatives were not so easily obtainable, if I could not buy lots of them at the age of 14 wherever I wanted, if I had to ask for them from behind the counter, if they were clearly not a weight loss aid... well, I really think that I might not have abused laxatives so readily and I think that's the case for many eating disorder sufferers. Something needs to be done because this growing trend is scary and dangerous.

Things I've learnt while job hunting...

As most of you know, I graduated this year and have been looking for a job since my internship finished. It's been a month. I've applied to over 50 jobs, had 5 interviews and am yet to get anywhere but I've already learnt a lot...

Some interviewers will not even have read your CV.

Yeah, that's right. They invite you along to interview without having looked at your CV that you spent ages working on. I don't know if they just pick random candidates and hope one of them is suitable. So expect them to ask really obvious questions sometimes. 

Putting your CV online will mean receiving lots of phone calls.

Mostly from recruitment companies wanting you to work for them. This might be good for you. But a lot of it is about sales and I, for one, am really fed up of these calls from companies that I would never want to work for.

You should always take a pen to your interview.

Well, you should always carry one but make sure you have a working one just in case. It shows you are prepared.

There's lots of specialist jobs available...

For budding engineers, teachers, lorry drivers and such, there is a lot of choice. But for those of us who are uncertain or want less common jobs, there is not much out there and it can get pretty frustrating.

You will start to question why you bothered with your degree.

If you are not looking to do a job directly linked with your degree subject, you will question why you bothered. You will remind yourself about "transferable skills" and all the interesting things you learned. But why didn't you pick something that would ensure a job at the end?! Why did we bother with degrees when everyone wants experience?!

It is not all bad!

Yes, job hunting is time consuming and stressful. It makes you feel like crap and useless. You start to apply to jobs that you really do not want because you need the money and you need to do something. However, it also gives you a chance to see what is out there and to explore your options if you are unsure. It provides time to think and to learn how to do well in interviews and applications.

So if you're like me and getting stressed and miserable with the whole job hunting thing, just remember that the right job will come along in the end and all this will be worth it!

Diets are dangerous...

Diets. We probably all know someone that's been on one. Most of us have been on one ourselves. It's usually just an attempt to lose a few pounds. Diets seem healthy, harmless and sometimes like the best thing for someone to do. But they can be dangerous and they can lead to eating disorders. I understand that this is not always the case. I understand that some people need to go on diets for health reasons but a hell of a lot of people who put themselves on diets do not need to lose weight.

A lot of people who develop eating disorders say that it began when they tried to eat a bit more healthy. Perhaps they started eating more fruit and vegetables. But then it can spiral out of control. It's easy to enjoy the weight loss. It's easy to start eating less and enjoying losing more weight. It's nice to see the numbers on the scale drop. People start telling you how good you look. You tell them about this great diet you're on.

Well, this can get serious really quickly. You eat a bit less and you lose more weight and soon it is not enough so you start exercising too or skipping meals altogether. It starts pretty innocently but it becomes more sinister. You get thinner. You get sick. Soon, you are in the grips of an eating disorder and really mentally unwell.

It's the new year in a couple of months. That means people will be going crazy talking about their desperate need to lose a few pounds, there will be diets advertised everywhere and celebrity fitness DVD's. People will buy into it but I am urging you not to. I want to remind you that this diet culture we are in is dangerous for everyone. As someone in recovery from an eating disorder, I can say that hearing friends talk about diets and calories makes me feel like I should be. It damages my recovery and diets put them at risk of potentially developing eating disorders. Eating disorders kill people.

It makes me angry. Seeing constant adverts for new diet pills and diet companies. STOP IT. Stop making people think that they need to lose weight in order to be happy. Stop showing unhappy fat people and happy thin people, the world does not work like that. People are not that simple. Weight loss is not equal to happiness. Eating Special K every day will not make your life better, following weight watchers will not make you a good person. Diets sometimes help you lose weight but unless your doctor advises you to do so, you probably do not need to. These companies are making money off of your misery, low self esteem and desperation.

Most importantly, the diet industry wants you to feel bad about yourselves. It wants you to hate your body so you buy their products over and over again in a desperate attempt to fix things. However, this doesn't work. So you try more diets and low fat foods and gym classes. Losing weight is not how you learn to love yourself. It is not how you become happy. Looking after yourself, being kind to yourself is how you learn to love yourself. And you should love every part of you because if we all show ourselves a little bit of love, these awful diet companies will go out of business. Eating disorders may decrease in frequency.

Ignore the diet talk. Do not buy into this culture. You are more than your weight and you deserve to love yourself for who you are not because you lose weight on a diet.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

If you've ever had to wait for any sort of health treatment then you probably understand how frustrating it is. Mind have published a report on waiting times for mental health treatments, specifically psychological treatments. Its findings are pretty scary. Of course, we all appreciate that we have access to free health care on the NHS in Britain. But, we also have expectations of the services provided to us. 

One in ten people wait over a year for treatment. In that year, a person with mental health problems could end up being in a very vulnerable state. Without treatment, that person's mental state could deteriorate making the need for therapy even more urgent. These people may become desperate and without someone to talk to, may be in a very dangerous mind set. Around 1 in 6 people who commit suicide are on waiting lists for help. That's a pretty terrifying thought, right? Imagine the amount of people whose lives might be saved if waiting lists were shorter, if people got help sooner.

Of course therapy does not work for everyone but it is very effective in treating a number of mental illnesses. My doctor recommended that I self referred to talking therapies. I did so three times before I heard anything. Then I was told that my problems were "too complex" and referred to the local complex needs service. After filling out some questionnaires and sending them off, I have yet to hear anything. It has been 6 months so far. In that time, my depression has got worse. There are so many people like me having trouble like this and something needs to be done.

Yes, there will be some limits on access to therapies due to the numbers seeking them. However, addressing this needs to be a priority. The next government has to take this seriously. Something needs to be done to stop struggling people being put in a more difficult position with little or no help.

How can you help? Write to your local MP asking what they will be doing to improve mental health services. Make sure that these issues are on their radar.

Celebrities and feminism

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about Emma Watson's UN speech as Women Goodwill Ambassador. There's been varied responses and it's got me thinking about celebrities and the issue of feminism as a whole. Celebrities such as Beyonce have been criticised for using feminism as a trend and some people believe that the likes of Emma Watson should be pushing more radical ideas.

My initial thought is that surely any exposure from celebrities for an important cause like feminism is good! Having a role model like Emma Watson not being afraid to speak out as a feminist is really great, it shows young women who may look up to her that it is okay to be against sexism and to point out problems in society. Celebrities talking about feminism means that people who may otherwise not be interested in it, will listen to it and perhaps learn something from them. It is a good thing for the cause and much better than the female celebrities who are refusing to use the dreaded 'f word.'

But, should celebrities be talking about more radical issues? It has been said that Emma Watson offered nothing new in her speech. She reiterated what many feminists have been saying for years - feminism is not about man hating, it is about equality, issues with the word 'bossy'. Shouldn't Watson be using her position to say something new? Well maybe yes but at least she's saying something!

What about this whole HeForShe campaign? In Watson's speech, she addressed the issue of men being judged by stereotypes of masculinity, not valued for their parental role and such. She points out that it is in men's interests that we gain equality too. This is an important point to make. But this campaign is described as “a solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of humanity in support of the other of humanity, for the entirety of humanity.” So essentially it seeks to get men in on the women's rights movement. I have a bit of a problem with this to be honest. I'm all for men supporting feminism and gender equality. However, having this whole campaign surrounding the issue seems odd considering other more important things that need addressing.

Watson could have taken the time to talk of the severe injustices faced by women outside the western world. One reason many women refuse to identify with feminism is because they believe that we already have equality. It would have been more impressive for this UN ambassador to address these issues to get people on board with feminism. Equal pay, for example, is a really important thing but in comparison with sexual exploitation and child brides, it's just not as vital to be addressed.

I'm rambling, sorry. I think Emma Watson's speech was pretty fantastic. I think celebrities advocating feminism is really good for the cause, it promotes it and teaches young women more about it and makes them want to learn more. I just wish they'd say something different, that they would not be so afraid to speak about some bigger issues.

Cornish Seal Sanctuary

I recently visited the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. I visit zoos and similar places a lot, I love animals. But this place was really special. Situated in Gweek in the Cornish countryside, this beautiful setting sees a sanctuary which seeks to rescue and rehabilitate seals. Any sick or hurt seal pups found on the Cornish coasts get treated here.

I learnt a lot there, about dangers to seals and how important it is that places like this exist. Seals are lovely creatures and beautiful to watch but they face many dangers. These can include being abandoned as pups or getting caught in sea waste. Pieces of plastic floating in the sea pose a real threat to seals, remember that. If you live near the coast and ever see a seal pup that you are concerned about then contact the RSPCA or local animal rescue for advice and hopefully they will be able to help.

The work at the seal sanctuary is vital - they treat the injured, feed them, socialise them and seek to put them back into the sea where possible. If you are ever in Cornwall then do visit, they are also home to penguins, sea lions, otters and more. To find out more about their work, click here.

Here are some photos I took at the sanctuary a couple of days ago:

This seal recently had eye surgery and needs to be kept out of water to avoid infection.

Despite contraception efforts, two cheeky seals made this little pup who is currently being kept in the hospital to ween him onto fish.

Book review: Gone Girl

"Our kind of love can go into remission but it's always waiting to return. Like the world's sweetest cancer."

I've recently read 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn after lots of recommendations! It was the first book I've read in a long time that I just could not put down, it was absolutely brilliant and I urge you to read it.

It's a story of love, hate, revenge, lies and is full of twists. The characters of Amy and Nick as narrators are so brilliantly written. They are complex and interesting. You fall in love and out with the characters throughout the story. It is a really powerful plot. On the morning of their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing and Nick quickly becomes the prime suspect but all is not as it first seems. As the police investigation and Nick's investigation unravel the readers learns more about their marriage and them as individuals. Flynn writes fantastically and really draws you in to the story.

The central relationship is confusing and messy. But, Flynn also takes time to reflect on the upbringing of the main characters and how their parents influenced their lives in such a big way. There is fantastic commentary on how society views women and the husband/wife dynamic as well as the media portrayal of the law and high profile murder cases.

Flynn manages to make you question a lot of things in this dark tale, primarily how well one person can really know another. The book is fast paced and never seems to slow down, the twist literally made me gasp out loud.

This book is addictive, gripping and an absolute must read!

Mental Health and unemployment

Last week I finished my internship and for the first time in my life I have no idea what is coming next. I had school then sixth form then uni then internship and now - nothing is certain. I've been applying for jobs and have a couple of interviews lined up but it's all got me thinking about my mental health.

As far as I'm concerned, the reason my mental health was under control (well enough for me to complete my work) during education was because I was kept busy. However, I could always guarantee that when half term would come around and I finished any work I had, my mental health would rapidly decline. So as you can probably guess, my mental health has rapidly got worse over the past week because all I've had to do is look for jobs.

Now yes, that does take a lot of time and thinking. But it's something I can do whenever I feel like it, I have no obligation to do it at set times of day, I have nobody to answer to. This type of 'work' is not enough to keep my mind busy enough to keep sane! The only thing that is enough of a distraction is work that I must do to earn money or make progress in some big way.

In short, unemployment = worsening mental health issues because of no distractions, feeling you are not good enough for any jobs etc.

So to cope, I often work crazy hard to keep my depression/ED/anxiety at bay. Yet I have recently come to realise that although this does work for me and means that I am productive and seem like I am functioning well, I am not coping. I am not dealing with any of my mental health issues, I am just avoiding them and doing all I can to keep them in a place where they will not interfere too much. I feel a lot of people do this. Use x or y as a distraction and continue with their lives not feeling the intensity of their problems until they stop.

Unfortunately, this means I do not like to take breaks even though everyone needs them. Breaks are just another way for my head to think too much. I do know that I need to work on this because sooner or later, I am going to have to stop relying on distractions and start fixing things... but I guess, I'll have to wait until I get to the top of the waiting list.

Anyone have any experience/advice with this?

Life as a graduate...

So you've graduated from university. You have spent the past 3/4 years working hard in libraries and partying like crazy. You have read more books and written more essays than you ever thought possible. It's been great. But what next?

If you're lucky enough to know exactly what you want to do with your life then you'll probably have a masters lined up to do or something like that. Maybe you don't know what to do so you do a PGCE, go into teaching because it's safe and stable.

However, if you're like me and a hell of a lot of other graduates then your path won't be so clear. You probably have a degree that doesn't lend itself directly to much but gave you lots of "transferable skills." When you're in school, you get the impression that people graduate and get high paid jobs and all is wonderful. Well, it's not quite that easy. Really we should've been warned about all this!

Getting a job is really difficult. It doesn't matter if you have a degree, every job has multiple applicants and many will have more experience than you. Yes, a degree sets you apart but it does not guarantee employment. Once you graduate, you will spend many weeks/months applying for jobs, perfecting interview techniques and doing things to build your CV.

You might start ambitious, applying for jobs you really want. But then after a few months it becomes more difficult and there you are, a university graduate, working in a bar or as a shop assistant. It pays the bills but you could have got this job with no degree. Wasn't it all a waste of time?

No, of course not. For many people, university is the best time of their lives. You meet people, you learn so much about the world and yourself. It might cost a tonne of money but it is an incredible experience. I hear you though, you wanted a high paid exciting job out of this as well.

My advice? Don't give up. Even if your first job as a graduate is not ideal, you have still worked hard for your degree. Keep looking and applying for your preferred job, something will come along. Working in that bar might lead to something better. Be patient. Be realistic. Do things in your spare time to build your skills that might help in the next interview, do volunteering. The thing with getting a job that you hate is that at least it tells you what you don't want to do, even if you're still uncertain about what you want.

Being a graduate is valuable for the experiences it provides that you cannot get elsewhere but just be aware that job hunting can be hell. It can make you want to give up and cry and curse the years of university you wasted when you could've been getting experience. You will get there though, it might be a long and painful process but unfortunately, we need to work to get by in this society so don't give up.

Leaked nude photos - victim blaming, privacy...

You've probably heard about the celebrity nude photos that have been leaked online. Essentially some idiot thought it would be a great idea to access and post private naked photos of some well known female celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence and Rihanna.

A lot of people have been talking about how women shouldn't take nude photos if they do not want them seen. Shut up. These women have been victims of a huge violation of privacy, they are not in the wrong. They did not take these photos for the world to see, they should not be blamed for this. The only people in the wrong are those who leaked them and those who are looking at them. Women can do whatever they want with their bodies, it does not entitle you to do what you want with them!

People are allowed privacy. There was no consent allowing this photos to be shared. These photos were stolen and that is obviously wrong. Imagine if it were you, if naked photos of you were seen by the world. How would you feel? Being a celebrity does not mean these women should expect things like this to happen. It happens to lots of women and it needs to stop.

Sharing these photos with others and viewing them means you are participating in this horrible violation of privacy. Do not take part in this no matter how curious you might be.

Remember:

• You cannot blame the person in the photos. They have a right to do what they want with their body.
• You are not entitled to see these private images.
• This is a violation of privacy in a huge way.

Katie Hopkins Fat Shaming

The woman who seems to have no emotional understanding of other people is back. Katie Hopkins has become well known for her constant offensive remarks about various issues. The latest is one which I cannot ignore. So what has she done?

Well, she's put on weight purely to show people how 'easy' it is to lose it. She's be known to make comments about things like this before, she is clearly disgusted by fat people. Hopkins is set to make a tv show about her simple path back to her formerly slim body for 2015.

"My project was to prove that all the excuses for being fat are nonsense — and it is proving that."

As someone who is in recovery from an eating disorder, I feel like I am in a good position to say that losing weight is not easy. When she has to do it, I hope she realises what a struggle can be. But then again, she'll probably be able to afford a dietician and a trainer to help her through. Most of us do not get that luxury. Most people have to try and lose weight alone.

Being fat is not just about eating too much. There can be severe emotional issues behind someone's weight gain. There can also be health problems and disorders which cause someone to gain weight. Hopkins has repeatedly said how miserable putting on this weight has made her, she fails to understand how people can be fat and happy.

I have news for you Katie Hopkins - just because everyone is not your idea of a perfect weight does not mean that they should be unhappy. It does not mean that they even want to lose weight. It's possible to be overweight and healthy. Weight is no indication of health or happiness or success.

Being overweight does not mean you are lazy. Losing weight is really difficult for some people and easier for others. Do you know why? Because all our bodies are different. They work in different ways, we have different metabolisms and need different vitamins. There is no one solid way that works for people wanting to lose weight. So all this 'experiment' is going to show is that it is easy for Katie Hopkins to lose weight, no more than that.

Besides, I do not care if this woman (who is making money from being controversial) thinks that fat people must want to lose weight. Being happy with who you are is much more important than being thin just because society tells you it is more attractive.

Engage and vote

People get bored by talking about politics as well as confused. Political leaders use big words and complicated phrases and it makes it difficult for the everyday person on the street to engage with politics. So if you want to understand, if you want to know who/what you're really voting for then where do you start?

There's plenty of online quizzes which give a good indication of where your views might lie in relation to political ideologies. This was my result, for example:

Essentially, these sorts of things can show you the basics of ideals that you might like to follow. It's a good starting point to understanding politics of today.

In the UK, we have some main political parties: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Green, BNP. They all throw around promises and crap to try and get votes. It's no wonder that a lot of people do not bother voting, they're tired of hearing false promises from white middle class men as leaders who cannot relate to the average population. It's frustrating! What can we do though? Well, we need to get people engaged with politics again. We need to help people learn about politics in a simple way. If more of us can engage then there is more of a chance for a wider variety of people to eventually get into power. Choosing not to vote is just another way of letting parties win that you do not want.

So take some time to do a little research. Use Google, use books, understand all the parties as well as you can. If you do not like any of them, then pick the one which is most aligned to your views. Do not let a lack of good choice leave you thinking you have no choice. If we continue, as a country, to not bother with voting then we will not be living in a true democracy and the government will never reflect our views. 

The situation we are in is not ideal. But we are fortunate enough to have the right to vote when a lot of people do not get that. So when the time comes, use it. And if you're really fed up with the parties then look into starting your own!

Politics might seem dull and something only for middle class men. It will continue to be this way unless more people engage and take an interest. It can change but it will take a whole lot of people to take action.

Hashtag activism

It gets put down, it's being used as an insult - hashtag activism has emerged in society. It's a way for people to use hashtags on social media in order to raise awareness for things they care about. So why is this a bad thing? Well, a lot of people seem to think that hashtag activism is a cop out because these people are not really taking proper action to change things.

Okay, I get that. But isn't raising awareness of issues an important part of activism? If people cannot or are uncomfortable taking real action for whatever reason then surely taking part in hashtags on social media is something to do, better than nothing. These can be powerful and direct. For example, #IfTheyGunnedMeDown saw people of colour post photos of themselves doing 'good' things next to photos of themselves looking like 'thugs' or in stereotypically shown ways and asking which photo the media would use if they were killed. This directly showed that the media representation of black people is biased and unfair. All it took was people tweeting and it was very powerful.

So hashtag activism is not all powerful but it does make a difference. It raises awareness of important issues in a way that social media users can connect to. It allows everyone to get involved in important issues. Of course, we want people to take action where possible but whilst social media is at the centre of so many lives, using hashtags for good is a great thing.

Miss Representation

I recently watched 'Miss Representation,' a documentary about how the media portrayal of women impacts on the limited numbers of women in positions of power. I highly recommend watching it. Although it is focused on the US, it is a reflection of the media across the globe and is informative and thought provoking.

The documentary highlights the impact of the media and capitalism on how women are viewed in the world. Media shows us that women are bodies first and that these bodies will help you achieve if and only if they meet men's ideals. Well I can tell you that is bullshit. The media constantly belittles women in power or gives them no coverage at all. We often get shown female celebrities in very little clothing but rarely get to see female CEO's or politicians without sexist comments being made about them. It needs to stop. 

'Miss Representation' touches on the lack of censorship in media. Many people, including myself, would see this as a good thing because surely less censorship = more freedom. But what about when that freedom is being used to show women as objects and is influencing how young girls view themselves. It's contributing to the rise in eating disorders and low self esteem. There needs to be limits on the media in order to protect society. The media is so powerful but with no rules, it can show whatever it wants. It has no obligation to represent groups fairly. It should have. I'm not saying censorship is the answer. I'm saying that things like airbrushing need to be stopped, media coverage needs to be just as favourable to women and people of colour as it is to white men. I don't know how this can be achieved but there are small things we can do to make a difference:

• Stop buying tabloid magazines. Those ones which have a 'circle of shame' around 'fat' parts of women's bodies. They are fuelling the way men and women view women, they make it seem like looking good should be a priority. #NotBuyingIt to call out these outlets on their sexism.
• Do not watch tv shows or movies which objectify women. Stop watching those films that refuse to show women as strong characters and make them constantly rely on men for everything. They are not accurate portrayals and they're boring, we've seen it all before. 
• If you're a writer, write strong female characters into your stories. Show your readers that women are people to. They are not just props for male characters.
• #MediaWeLike for any media outlets which are positive for and empower women.

Remember that women are powerful, we can be powerful regardless of what the media  might tell us. Women can be leaders. Women can be successful. Women can change the world. And it will not only benefit women but everyone. If women are encouraged to enter politics then government's will be more representative. If the media starts to show that women are more than their bodies, women will start to believe it too.

Quit complaining about the ice bucket challenge!

So you're probably all aware of the ALS ice bucket challenge which has gone viral. It follows the #nomakeupselfie which happened earlier this year. Essentially these things set a challenge to people in order to raise awareness of particular charities and issues and encourage people to donate where they can. But why are people complaining about it?

Some people are just fed up of the ice bucket challenge videos filling up their news feed. Others feel like there is some peer pressure involved with getting others to do challenges by linking it to charity. People sometimes just think it's stupid and achieves very little.

But these people are wrong. What we must realise is that although these viral charity challenges might seem ridiculous, they are working. They raise huge amounts for charity and huge amounts of awareness. Once nominated, rules state that you do not have to do the challenge but if not, you must donate money. I personally did not know much about ALS before this challenge went viral. Yet now I do and so do millions of others.

How can this be a bad thing? Around $50 million dollars has now been raised through the emergence of the ice bucket challenge and awareness has been raised for a serious and damaging illness. So really if you're one of those people thinking it's stupid and people are just joining in because it's a trend, well so what? Even if people are just following a trend, by doing that, they are contributing to something important and surely that can never be a bad thing. As long as people remember it is for charity, challenges like this which successfully raise huge amounts of money will hopefully continue to happen.

Saturday @ Reading Festival 2014

Dry the River

These guys have come a long way in the past few years, a great festival band with some lovely tunes. They performed to a pretty substantial crowd on the Main Stage and did a good job of it. Their music is pretty chilled and sounds a bit heavier live than recorded. They were nice to listen to and reminded me of a less annoying Mumford & Sons. They played some new songs from their new album which is set to be released tomorrow which were great so 'Alarms in the Heart' will definitely be worth a listen.

Royal Blood

I only caught about 3 songs from these guys but they were fantastic. They played to a huge crowd spilling out of the NME tent. Royal Blood definitely deserve a place on the Main Stage next year and could easily pull in a great crowd. They are just as good live as one would imagine. Songs like 'Come on Over' and 'Figure it Out' got the crowd going and the band were great.

Peace

One of my highlights of the day. I was unsure how they would be live but they blew me away! Harrison is a great front man and his outfit was amazing. They played fan favourites such as 'Bloodshake,' 'Lovesick' and 'Money.' All of which were sung along with and enjoyed. They also performed their new song set for release next month called 'Lost on Me' which is just as catchy as one might expect. Seeing them live made me really excited for what is coming next for this band.

Wolf Alice

Another highlight! I love a good front woman for a band and I think I might be in love with Ellie. She has the most mesmerising voice and is a great live performer. She reminds me a little bit of Alison Mosshart. Their sound has got a bit heavier recently and it makes for a brilliant live show. The crowd seemed to love them and were singing along to favourites like 'Bros' and 'Moaning Lisa Smile.' This band is definitely one to watch and to catch live if you can.

Foster the People

They were really boring. I understand why they were on the Main Stage, they seem to have a lot of fans. But, I was just so uninterested. I thought they would be really fun to see live but I really did not enjoy them.

Imagine Dragons

As Dan Reynolds commented during the set, Imagine Dragons were playing in tiny venues 6 years ago and now they have been on the Main Stage at one of the best festivals in the world. So how did they do? Amazingly well. They are a rock band but they have such a distinctive sound that makes them loved by so many fans. The crowd went crazy for 'Demons' and 'Radioactive' as one might expect. Imagine Dragons look set to get bigger and better.

Jake Bugg

He played a surprise set on BBC introducing in the afternoon with just his guitar and I won't lie, he just sounded a little bit whiny and I wasn't enjoying it. So when he took to the Main Stage in the evening, I didn't have high hopes. He is much better live with a band than on his own. I still like his music but he seemed to struggle to engage with the crowd at all. Musically, he was good but I understand why people find his singing voice a bit annoying. He's still very young and I think he'll eventually find his way with big crowds on big stages.

Arctic Monkeys

Phenomenal. Seriously, they were incredible. The crowd was singing and dancing along to every song. These guys continue to grow and change and still release brilliant material that the fans love. Although 'AM' is worlds apart from 'Whatever People Say I Am...' they managed to perform songs from both seamlessly and it all sounded amazing. Matt Helders really is one of the best drummers around at the moment and Alex Turner (no matter how ridiculous some people think he looks right now) knows how to write songs and perform. I am so glad that I finally got to see one of my favourite bands live and I was not disappointed!

Depression and Suicide

You've probably all heard that the world lost a great man this week as Robin Williams committed suicide. After battling with depression and anxiety for a long time, he took his own life and yes, it's tragic. This was a man who bought joy to so many lives through his comedy yet he was suffering every day. So what can we learn from this?

Well, it highlights the fact depression can affect anyone. It doesn't matter what class, race, sexuality you are. It doesn't matter what job you have or where you live. Depression is a mental illness that can creep up on anyone at any time.

Many people have commented on the selfishness of suicide. I get this, I understand that it seems selfish. But, unless you've been there, unless you have felt so hopeless that you feel death is the only way out then you cannot understand it. Robin Williams had access to a lot of help and sadly, depression still did not stop for him. So think about those people who do not have access to help. Life seems even more hopeless and pointless to them. Referring to suicide as selfish just shows the ignorance surrounding the mental illness.

Depression is serious. It is not just feeling a little sad. Imagine a day when you cannot motivate yourself to move from bed. You cannot eat or shower or move. You might be able to cry and when you start, you cannot stop. Life seems pointless. You do not enjoy anything. You hate yourself so much that it hurts. Depression gives you physical pains - headaches and nausea. It feels like there is nothing that can help. Now, imagine this happens regularly.

That's the pain of depression. Calling suicide selfish when it seems like the only way out of this misery is ignorant and unfair. 'Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem' - yes, but sometimes the problem seems permanent. It feels like it will never end. Depression does not allow for logical thinking. The sufferer contemplating suicide will not necessarily think about the family and friends they will be leaving behind.

Depression can affect anyone. Suicide is a desperate act from someone who is suffering. Respect the deceased and keep your "selfish" talk to yourself.

Here Comes The Sun...

So I haven't had time to blog as I worked almost 50 hours last week! As many of you know, as part of my internship, I was helping to organise an arts centre's annual festival. This involved heping with making decor, setting up logistics, programming, marketing among other things. It finally happened on Saturday and was a huge success! The week was stressful but I had lots of fun. It's fair to say that this internship has been amazing, I've really enjoyed it and met some brilliant people. I never want it to end.

Lots of people enjoyed the festival and I've had some great feedback from acts. Of course, there were a few small hiccups but it all got resolved. I've learnt how much I love working with volunteers. They're especially enthusiastic and passionate about what they do and work so hard. We had over 25 acts across 3 stages with incredible decor, much of which was made with a group of adults with learning disabilities.

As far as figures go, we're looking to have raised around £2500 for the arts centre which is incredible and I'm so proud to have been part of such a brilliant day.

If you're looking to check out some new music then I'd definitely recommend some of the artists we had playing: 

Bentcousin

A band from Brighton, this band are really fun. Lyrics which remind me a little of Kate Nash's old stuff. Their energy is contagious and they are just the perfect pop style band to put you in a good mood.

Co-Pilgrim

A band from Oxford who are lovely guys and great musicians. They play lovely pop melodies and have great harmonies. Definitely something to check out if you like bands such as Stornoway or Villagers.

Vienna Ditto

Something really different but really fantastic! Electronica and bluesy. It's quite difficult to describe them but they are definitely worth a listen.

Khamsina

Beautiful lady with a beautiful voice. I could listen to her sing all day. Her music is just lovely and she has incredible stage presence.

So there we have it, the big event of my internship is over and it will all be over in a few weeks. I'm hoping to continue volunteering at the centre when it's done though. Now I have to find a real job. Also got Saturday at Reading festival coming up and The Libertines at Ally Pally. Lots of exciting/scary things to look forward to!

Women Against Feminism don't understand feminism...

I am a feminist. Why? Because I believe in the total equality of men and women regardless of class, race or location. Most people have probably seen posts from whoneedsfeminism.tumblr.com, an array of women declaring why they believe they do need feminism today.

There have been jokes made about this blog. There have been plenty of men going on about how feminism is a bunch of bullshit. That’s bad enough. But now, women are joining in. This comes in the form of womenagainstfeminism.tumblr.com –

What occurs to me most here is that most of these women do not really appear to understand feminism or the real position of women in various societies across the globe. They seem to forget that without feminism, all women would probably have to give birth and rely on their husbands, women would not have the right to vote. The reason women have so many rights today is because of the work of feminism in the past.

For a second, let’s just look at some of the points on this tumblr and address them properly.

Equal Rights exist

Really? Governments around the world are still dominated by men which means that in many countries, the majority of power lies with men. Women are blamed for their sexual assaults because of the way they dress. Women are still expected to look and act a certain way. Men still feel some entitlement to our bodies. That does not sound like equality to me.

Helpless Victim Cult

There appears to be a lot of this talk on this particular tumblr blog. I have to disagree with the idea that feminism tries to tell women they are weak and need help. As far as I can see, feminism does the opposite. It aims to make women feel strong and use their strength in a movement to change things for all women.

Rape Culture does not exist

Okay, the very fact that there are constant cases of women being blamed for their own rape because of what they are wearing shows that rape culture does indeed exist. We do live in a world that teaches women how to avoid being raped and hands out personal attack alarms rather than teaching men about consent.

I don’t believe in promoting slut/whore behavior to be healthy. 

Seriously?! Feminism does not promote “slut/whore” behaviour. It tells women that they are allowed to have consensual sex whenever they want with whoever they wish to. It is not about telling women to sleep around. It is about giving women a choice to do so if they want to, letting them know that it is okay to have sex outside of a relationship.

Feminists are jealous of other women who receive more male attention than them

I do not even feel like I need to articulate a proper response to this. It’s just another example of how ridiculous some of these anti-feminist arguments are.

So to those who believe what this blog is saying, go away and read something. All of this seems to be purely based on their experience of feminists through tumblr. You cannot base views based on one group of feminists on one website. Yes, some women who claim to be feminists on tumblr are extreme. They do want supremacy over men. But what about the rest? It’s not the case.

Most feminists I know do not hate men as a gender. They might hate particular men. Mostly, they just want to live in a world where they can walk down the street without being cat-called. They want to know that if they do get raped, justice will be served. They want to have choices. It is true that women in the western world have more rights than in other parts of the world. This does not mean we cannot try to pave the way for change in other countries. It does not mean we cannot continue to set an example for the rest of the world. Maybe if we gain full equality, other women in other countries will see that it is possible. Surely that is a cause worth fighting for. In short, just because your life and experience of men has been good does not mean everyone else’s is! So surely it's better to try and help other women who haven't been as fortunate as you...

Feminism is not about ignoring men. It is simply about helping women. Throughout history, men have had the power. They have had the control. Most feminists do not want to get rid of men or take away their rights. They just want to have those rights for all women. We do not all hate men. We hate the way that the world works, the way that men are seen as superior a lot of the time.

Instead of ploughing through tumblr for examples of feminism, open some books, read some news articles, go to some conferences. Learn about feminism in the real world. Remember what it has achieved already. Be aware of the real aims it has. Remember that some feminists are more radical than others. There are always extremists in movements. Stop basing your views on a few people behind keyboards because they do not represent the whole movement.

Dear past feminists...

There's been this whole women against feminism thing emerging online lately and it sucks. They do not seem to understand feminism. They make awful assumptions and base their views on only extreme "feminists." But worst of all, there are women who seem to forget the incredible achievements of past feminists so here is an open letter, a reminder of all that feminism has done so far.

Dear past feminists,

Thank you for giving your time and energy and power to such an important cause. Thank you for fighting for women's rights across the world.

Modern women owe you more than they might realise. Thanks to your battle, we now have a choice. Most countries supply women with contraception so that we can decide if and when to have children. There are still issues in some cultures but those of us lucky enough to have access owe you thanks. For the protests and petitions and pushing for laws to change.

Women can vote. Sure, governments can be corrupt and useless. But a hundred years ago, women did not have the ability to vote. Now, we do. I, personally, think that is amazing. Today's women must remember all you did for us to gain the vote.

Oh and we do not have to be wives and mothers now. We have options. We can go out and get jobs. We can provide for ourselves. Again, thanks to the feminists of the past from across the globe. We have access the education, to university. You'll probably be sad to hear that many women forget that this is a privilege, that 40 years ago, the world was not like this. Thanks to the battle of feminists, we can live more free lives.

Okay, so equal pay isn't quite here yet and some countries have a long way to go. Women still get blamed for their own rape, still get judged based on their appearance. There's still work to do. But, us modern feminists, are eternally grateful for the work you put in to make things better for all women. Sure the movement has some issues, just like it always has, but we will not stop talking and shouting until equality is reached.

We will not keep reminding those women who are "against" feminism that they ought to remember that without it, they would not have access to education/contraception/jobs like they do. That they need to educate themselves on issues before bitching about us. 

And yes, we're still mostly seen as man-hating, hairy lesbians but understanding is spreading and it won't stop.

Thank you.

My favourite albums

Music is my one true love so I thought I'd share 5 of my favourite albums that I think everyone should listen to! In no particular order...

1. Disintegration - The Cure
I am a huge fan of The Cure, I saw them live in 2012 and they were so great! This album is by far my favourite of theirs. I always feel like I'm on some kind of journey when listening to it. It always relaxes me and takes me away to another place, it's somewhat hypnotic. I love music which has the power to do that. It's the gloomy gothic style that The Cure are known and loved for. Although the album, as the title suggests, came at a difficult time for band members, it will always be an incredible collection of beautifully dark songs.

Best songs: Pictures of You, Lovesong, Fascination Street.

2. The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground
A commercial failure on release, this album is now often cited as a huge influence on many artists. This really is my favourite album of all time. Nico's voice is mesmerising and works so well with the whole sound of the band. The songs tell stories of addiction and other controversial topics. The lyrics, style and overall composition of the album makes it one that gets better every time you listen to it.

Best songs: Femme Fatale, Venus in Furs, Venus in Furs

3. Up the Bracket - The Libertines
My favourite band, for their music and their story. Their debut album, it showcases some of the best of their songs out there. Carl and Peter really are two musicians who write and play so well together and this album reflects that. The first band of this generation to really have their own style which has since been replicated many times. If you like guitars and interesting lyrics, you'll love this.

Best songs: Death on the Stairs, The Good Old Days, Time For Heroes

4. Nevermind - Nirvana
Any list of great albums would be incomplete without this. Grunge rock at its very best with a melodic pop twist, this is definitely my favourite Nirvana album. I love listening to this after the Pixies 'Surfer Rosa' because the influence is so clear and it's awesome! The songs are catchy, the lyrics are great and the frequent changes in dynamic make this album unique. 'Nevermind' also made this genre more accessible which was not any easy feat.

Best songs: Lithium, Come As You Are

5. Midnight Boom - The Kills
I am head over heels crushing on Alison Mosshart and have been since I first heard this album a few years ago. The Kills songs always have so much going on in them and somehow they manage to also be an amazing live band. To me, they're pretty unique and special, I haven't found anything similar and to their standard yet. All the songs on this album are really catchy and it's just brilliant.

Best songs: Sour Cherry, Tape Song, Cheap & Cheerful

So there you have it, 5 albums which you should all listen to now (even if you've heard them before.) I'll probably post another list like this soon...

We're in a relationship so I have to have sex with him, right?

TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE

Cases of rape are well documented, the issue is one which the public is aware of. What many people seem unaware of is that rape can also occur within relationships. It is not limited to a stranger attacking someone on the streets or at a party. Rape in relationships is a very real and very big problem.

The main issue here is that people see sex in relationships as always consenting and mutual. This is not always the case. We all have a right to say 'no' to sex even if we are in a relationship with the other person. If said person ignores this and the sex is not 100% consensual then this is rape. It does not have to be a stranger, it can be a partner or someone you already know.

Rape within relationships is clearly recognised by the law but many people fail to see it as a problem. We cannot assume that because someone has committed to a relationship with someone else that they then want sex every time the other person does. 

Perhaps the rape is not particularly violent. In relationships, it is often the case that emotional manipulation is used when the other person does not want sex. For example, the person might threaten to leave if they do not have sex with them. Marrying or being with someone else does not mean that people give up the right to say no!

Women, especially, can often feel obligated to have sex with a partner. They might feel that they have a responsibility to have sex with them if they want a good relationship so let it happen when they do not really want it. It's a scary thought but it's true. I know feminists who have done this, they can say no but they feel a huge pressure to go along with it anyway. This is why we need to be aware of the possibility of rape in relationships, why we need to understand consent and we need to teach everyone that they should never have sex if they do not want to.

The huge problem here is those who are raped by a partner are less likely to report it than if it were a stranger. There is still an idea that marriage/relationships mean that partners have an entitlement to sex, this is not true!

It's all pretty simple. Without consent, there should be no sexual activity. So what counts as consent? It can be defined as 'free agreement.' Someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot consent. Saying yes due to a threat is not consent. If the person is incapable of giving consent for any reason, this does not equate to actual consent. If someone decides that they wish to withdraw their consent and ask you to stop but you do not, that is rape. If the consent is not decided by the individual without any pressure then it does not count.

So just remember that rape can occur within relationships as well as outside of them. It can be truly awful because this is often someone that you thought cared about/loved you. And know that even in a relationship, we always have the right to say no.

Self Harm is not just teen angst...

We've all heard about self harm but a lot of people assume it's limited to teenagers, usually girls. It tends to be seen as teen angst, a reaction to hormones. People imagine teenage girls cutting themselves. But it's important to remember that it can affect adults too.

For those of you who might not know, self harm is the act of causing intentional harm to oneself usually through cutting or burning. In teenagers, it can be the result of confusion, depression and a whole host of other things. It is often used as a coping mechanism to deal with emotional difficulties.

What about adults? Why do they turn to self harm? Well, it could be the case that they began self harming when they were a teenager and have been unable to find a better way of coping. Self harm can often become somewhat addictive. It may be a symptom of a mental illness such as borderline personality disorder or acting on voices from psychosis. It could be a result of some trauma or painful life event.

It's difficult to explain what could make someone hurt themselves in this way, it's not easy to explain the motivation sometimes. For me, it always provided relief in some way. It was my alternative to crying. The point is that it is not just teen angst. It can impact anyone at any point in their life.

An adult self harming does not mean that they're immature and it is often more difficult to treat. For adults, who have to get jobs, self harm scars can also be a big problem. It's just something worth remembering, mental illness and associated things like self harm do not discriminate. Any gender, age, race or class could be effected by it.  

I saw red when I watched 'Seeing Red'

I've recently been watching the much loved tv show 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' It's been constantly recommended to me and I have reached the end of season 6 now and the show is much better than I ever anticipated. I love the characters, the stories, the twists, the drama and comedy of it. But, there's one episode that has made me so uncomfortable and angry at Joss Whedon.

Warning: spoilers! Triggers for mentions of rape.

If you've watched Buffy then you'll understand all of this. If not, it might be interesting and a warning to you about how much you might dislike this episode. 'Seeing Red' is episode 19 of season 6. There's been this whole drama surrounding Spike and Buffy's "relationship" with them sleeping together and him being in love with her, Buffy claiming that she was just using him to deal with her other issues. In short, their "relationship" is a mess.

I'd always liked Spike. He was always a funny character despite his whole being a vampire thing which was great. I thought it was sweet at first that he was in love with Buffy. I wanted it to work. Then he got obsessive and it was just a bit creepy. But, I dealt with it. Vampire/slayer flings aren't exactly new to the show!

This was until the scene in "Seeing Red" when Spike attempts to rape Buffy on her bathroom floor. Yes, scenes that deal with rape are supposed to be uncomfortable to watch. I understand that. However, I was so angry about it because it was a shock, it was unexpected. Sure I expected Spike to do something evil after Buffy continuously rejected him but not this!

Not only was it shocking, it was totally unnecessary. I know that Whedon wanted to add more development for Spike's character but surely there are other ways to do this...

What I find most disturbing is that, from what I've read, the series continues focusing on Spike's struggles to come to terms with what he did. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT. Buffy has dealt with a lot of trauma so she can deal with this and does. But, I do not give a fuck how Spike feels. I do not care about his guilt. He should be feeling guilty, he should be in pain and regret what he has done for the rest of his 'life.' Why does Whedon insist on making the audience see this from the perspective of someone who attempted to rape someone?! It's not okay.

I dread to think what is going to happen next. I worry that Buffy and Spike will reconcile in some twisted turn of events. Buffy's character deserves time given to her healing after this event but Spike's does not.

Apologies if this is all rambling, I am just horrified by this episode and it's making it very difficulty for me to continue watching a show that I really enjoyed.

Israel/Palestine explained!

It's easy to ignore it, to forget about the rest of the world and just focus on your own life. I know I do it a lot. But sometimes, it becomes too difficult to ignore. It shouldn't be ignored. The famine, the war, the hell that people are living through every single day needs to be recognised. It's depressing but people need to be aware of it. Recently, I've been paying attention to the news about the world because so much terrible stuff appears to be happening all at once. I feel like I should be doing something to help, I've always felt some responsibility as a human to help others, no matter who they are or where they are in the world. Unfortunately, it feels there is little I can really do to make a difference so I've decided to write a series of blog posts to at least raise awareness of what is going on in the world.

So first up, let's talk Israel and Palestine. I'm going to try and explain the conflict in simple terms because it's really complex.

Geographically

Israel and Palestine are territories in the Middle East. There are no internationally recognised borders, it's part of the long ongoing dispute. While some believe that Palestine is an independent state, others see it as territories under Israeli occupation. Both have claims to various territories going back a long way.

When/how did it all start?

The early 1900s was when it all began. Many Jews who felt persecuted in their own homes began to move to the area wanting to have their own state there. In 1947, the UN approved a division - Israel for the Arabs and Palestine for the Jews with Jerusalem as an international zone. This was not enforced as many viewed it as European interference. In 1948, Palestine was invaded as people wanted it to be unified. They also uprooted entire Palestinian communities resulting in around 700, 000 refugees. Israel took control of most areas except for Gaza and the West Bank.

Then what?

Israel began occupying Palestinian territories in 1967, forces have occupied the West Bank since then. Why the occupation? Well, Israel claims that it is for security against Palestinian attacks. This makes life for Palestinians very difficult, subject to Israeli controls and strict border controls. Unemployment is high and getting food and water can be hard for some. 

Why is it still going on?

Well, in 2005 Israel left Gaza. Then a group called Hamas won elections and took control there. Violence has been going on for so long that it seems like the norm but it's important to remember that no one should have to live in a state of conflict like this. 

Hamas? Who are they?

They are a militant group formed in 1987. They have been engaged in conflict with the aim of forming a Palestinian state. They want Israel to be gone. They have led several suicide bombings. As unity talks keep breaking down, the conflict continues.

What about peace negotiations?

With continuous failed peace talks, a lot of people have concluded that violence must be the only solution. There seems to be a widespread feeling of apathy. There are still a lot of important questions to be answered - what will happen to settlers in the West Bank? What will happen to refugees? Who gets control of Jerusalem? Where do they draw the borders?

Will it ever end?!

Hopefully, yes. Either one state gets destroyed, there is a unity of states or two states can be formed. When this will happen remains unknown but hopefully sooner rather than later as casualties continue to rise.

Hopefully if you didn't understand the conflict much, you do now. Raising awareness is important if there's little else we can do. Please do let me know if I've made any mistakes! 

Dealing with depression

So recently I slipped into a pretty bad episode of depression. It's always there, like a lingering black cloud but sometimes it starts pouring with rain. I got to the point where menial tasks like tying my shoelaces took all the concentration and energy I had. I thought I would share some tips for pulling yourself out of a particularly bad period of depression.

1. Remind yourself of the good things.

Depression makes it really difficult to be grateful for the good things in your life. It seems like everything is terrible. So it's important to remind yourself of all the good no matter how small it is. Whether it's a stable job or a tv show you enjoy, all these things can help you feel better.

2. Get dressed in the morning.

It can be really tempting to wallow in the sadness, stay in your pyjamas and sleep. For me, getting dressed in the morning is the first step to having a better day. It makes you less likely to stay in bed and let the depression take you. Something like getting dressed is a big task when you are depressed but putting the effort in will make a difference.

3. Get out the house.

Whether it's going for a walk or picking up milk from the shops, getting out of the house is good for you! You'll probably feel like sitting inside in a dark room and crying or just doing nothing. But, if you force yourself out of the house to do small tasks, this is another thing which is a 'fuck you' to depression. All of these tips will ease the depression and stop it from growing worse. Allowing yourself to be depressed, however tempting, can be dangerous.

4. Keep busy.

When I'm depressed I find it really easy to sit and do nothing but think. Some thinking can be good but too much will lead you into an endless spiral until you are more depressed than you were to start with. How to stop this? I suggest keeping busy. Doing little bits of work or reading a book, anything that you need to focus on will help. Obviously it's difficult to get motivated when depressed but any little thing you can muster up the energy to do will help. Do not get stuck inside your head.

5. Write things down. 

Whether it's lists of happy memories, songs you love, a plan for the week or all your thoughts. Writing things down helps to make it all seem more real. Writing down your feelings can be really useful, especially all the negative. Burn the paper afterwards or rip it to pieces, it really does provide some relief even if it sounds silly!

6. Talk.

Do not, no matter how much it seems like the best idea, keep quiet. Open up to someone about what you are going through. A parent, partner, friend, doctor. Just talk to someone about things. Let them know you're in a bad place and that you might need some help. Other people being aware is always good in case you get to a state of urgent care need.

7. Spend time with others.

Depression can make this hard. All you want to do is be alone and isolate yourself. But, if you make the effort to spend time with people, you will eventually feel a little better. Even if it's just sitting inside and watching a movie. Having company means you are less likely to harm yourself and wallow in your own misery.

8. Professional help.

If things do not seem to be looking up, go to your doctor. If you're not on medication or in counselling, these could both help. If you are on medication, it might need changing. Don't be ashamed about needing help. Doctors are there to treat illnesses and depression is a very real and painful mental illness.


I know that all of this is much easier said than done! Trust me, I've been telling myself these things recently and had little energy to actually do anything. When I do muster up the energy though, it does help. Every little thing can make a difference and lift your mood slightly. This is the awful thing about depression: there are things to do which can make it more manageable but the depression makes doing these things seem impossible and pointless. The depression is lying to you. You are strong enough to get through this and hopefully some of these steps will help!