Myself and Sophie decided to work with The Foyer which is an organisation which helps young homeless people aged between 16-24. The newsletter is based around the Coventry Foyer showing the experiences of residents aswel as showcasing companies the Foyer works with.

We decided to work with the Foyer as we felt the community are unaware of the good work they were doing, we also wanted to break any pre-concetions which society may have on the Foyer. The newsetter is a way of intergrating the Foyer within scoiety and building links with other organizations.

We are currently producing two newsltters for The Foyer and a radio documentary to be aired on a local radio station, i will keep you posted on the next newsltter.

I would appreciate if you could take a look and give your opinions and suggestions for improving it. All articles have been written by myself and Sophie, just click on the Foyer 4 you link at the bottom to access the newsletter.

Thanks Attiq

Foyer 4 you

Global warming, one of the biggest crisis issues in the past ten years, it has had extensive media coverage and companies have been cashing in. Global warming is a major issue for the world, whether it impacts us now or in the future, action needs to be taken. One of the main contributors to Global warming is fossil fuels, with coal being the main problem.

The main concern for climate camps is lending, every year banks such as HSBC, RBS and Barclays lend billions of pounds to oil companies so that they can buy drills to venture out and find more oil. Although banks are seen as a business and lending is a part of that, there should be some accountability and restrictions placed on them on the limit that they can lend.

Banks are lending billions each year to finance new and expanding coal operations, although they may portray a green image, banks are doing more harm than good. A recent report compiled by Platform London shows that Barclays, RBS and HSBC sourced a total of £31.82 billion between May 2006 and April 2008, RBS being the biggest lender with over £15.93 billion loaned.

Platform and other climate change organizations have given RBS two years to lower the amount financed to oil companies before they start campaigning and making it aware to the public.

 RBS recently launched their corporate responsibility report which shows that in 2007 the bank loaned seven billion to the fossil fuel industry, a figure which they chose not to concentrate on, in comparison they invested between one and three billion in renewable energy sources.

RBS promote themselves as a green bank, with information on what they are doing to help prevent climate change, they have issued leaflets titled ‘RBS and the Environment’ to all branches explaining how eco friendly they are whilst duping the public.

I recently approached RBS and Natwest branches in Coventry city centre to discuss the issue, I was turned away by the manager of each branch. They stated “we cannot discuss the issues here as we don’t deal with major lending’s here, you can get in touch with our head office.” I then asked how they felt working for one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, in which both replied with “no comment.”

Though RBS are helping with renewable energy sources, it doesn’t off set to what they lend out. RBS lending decisions account for over 43 million tonnes of carbon emissions more than Scotland itself.

One bank which leads the way for the future is Co-operative bank, they installed their first ethical policy in 1992, and they only invest in what their customers want. Co-operative’s ethical policy prohibits it from financing any coal, oil or gas projects.

Ewa Jasiewicz a political activist and film maker recently Visited Coventry University to talk about RBS she stated “What people don’t understand is that by customers banking with RBS, there are repercussions all around the world. Their have been lives lost in Iraq in which companies funded by RBS have tried to gain Iraq’s oil, they have been unsuccessful at the moment, but innocent Iraqi lives have been lost.”

With lives being lost over oil and global warming increasing, is it time for us consumers to make a stand before it’s too late?

For more information on climate change visit www.climatecrisis.net.

 

 Clogged arteries, rotting teeth, a corpse and a baby in intensive care are just some of the images which will be appearing on cigarette packets. The images will replace the written warnings ‘Smoking Kills’ and ‘Smoking seriously harms you and others around you.’ Smoking is the biggest killer in England killing more than 87,000 people each year.

 The 15 images show the damage that smoking causes to your health. It’s part of a campaign to encourage more people to give up. The graphic images have to cover up at least 30% of the front and 70% of the back of the pack. Figures from the department of health show that since January 2003 more than 90,000 people have called the NHS quit smoking line.

 The Government is trying to tackle the problems which smoking causes. Since 1998 there have been more than 1.9m people who have quit. The smoking ban introduced last year is one of the many legislations the government is bringing in. There are ideas to replace branded packs of cigarettes with plain packets, a ban on vending machines in pubs and restaurants and banning packets of 10 cigarettes to make it more costly for smokers. There will be greater focus on advertisement which includes the effects on children and passive smoking.

The Department of Health estimates that more than 200,000 under 16s start smoking each year. Shops will soon be affected as they will not be able to advertise cigarettes, instead having them under the counter. The proposal is meant to give less temptation to those trying to quit.

The pictures have been criticised by the smokers lobby group Forrest  Simon Clark described the pictures saying “we support measures that educate people about the health risks of smoking, but these pictures are designed not just to educate but to shock and coerce people to give up a legal product. They are unnecessarily intrusive, gratuitously offensive, and yet another example of smokers being singled out for special attention.”

Not all smokers are objecting to the idea; Ross Rawlings, who has been a smoker for 7 years, stated “I have tried to give up many times; I have tried different methods but have been unsuccessful. I think it’s a great idea putting these images on as it makes you think before you buy the pack, it will definitely help me in my fight to give up smoking.”

The U.K is the first European country to introduce the disturbing pictures. So far 23 countries have opted to use pictures as a way of getting people to quit. Canada was the first country to introduce the pictures in 2001 with similar pictures being printed in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Who: DJ Scotch Egg – also known as Shiez 2000, Japanese game junkie, hyped up by cosmic energy

What: noise/Chiptune- music improvised from bombardment, of irritating noises from Game boy console, mashed into an addictive Electro sound.

They say: Deranged Japanese noisenik releases another emission of game boy bleep attack and demented to grindcore. NME

We Say: With four game boys in hand, Dj Scotch is undoubtedly a genius when it comes to the gaming world. Drumized is crazed with energy and excess creativity. His electro madness is looped and enslaved for rhythmic purposes, and in place of melodic content and solos. There’s a bizarrely jaunty sound which would entice the 7 am pill popping raver. Those who dread the synthetic bleating and squeaking of video game sounds will want to avoid this like the plague, but if you aren’t bothered by the game sounds, there’s much in here that’s aesthetically in the ballpark of Steve Reich and Stockhausen, among others.

If you only need to know one thing: DJ Scotch originally from Tokyo found his student visa had ran out and after the release of his debut album KFC Core.

The site Save The Scotch Egg was created and a petition was launched which granted him permission to stay in the UK.

Where can I get my hands on it: Drumized is released on Wrong music on June 10.

Find More: www.djscotchegg.com

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3987095.ece

I have had a article published within the newsletter titled Coventrycoversations.

You can see the newsletter by clicking on the link below.

intouch

Every year over two million people flock to Birmingham to get a glimpse of one of the world’s largest authentic German markets. The Frankfurt market marks over 40 years of partnership between Birmingham and Frankfurt, celebrated by a range of economic, political, cultural events and exchanges involving schools.

The market, in its eighth year, is the biggest of its kind outside of Germany and Austria. Traditional stalls offer handmade toys, Christmas decorations, hand crafted jewellery and much more. The market is a place for the whole family, with a carousel and helter skelter keeping the young entertained. For tradionalists it’s the perfect place for getting unusual and quirky presents with a personal touch.

Crowds gather in Victoria Square and Upper New Street, enjoying the fine delicacies Germany has to offer, including German mulled wine (Glühwein), German Beer, pretzels, grilled sausages and vegetarian options. One market stall stated: ‘I love coming to Birmingham, it’s my 5^th year running the stall and I love the atmosphere that the English bring.’

A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council, said: “The Christmas market is a hugely successful event which has grown year on year and now attracts more than two million visitors over its six-week run. Visitors not only shop at the stalls, but spend millions in the city’s shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.

“This is in addition to the money spent in the local economy by more than 400 stall holders and staff who come from Germany, all of whom need places to stay, eat and visit. Many of these stall holders also employ local staff, so it is a great event for Birmingham.”

This year the Frankfurt Market will be joined by Birmingham’s Christmas Craft Fair, which is double the size of last year and will see over 50 stalls fill Chamberlain Square and the Centenary Way Bridge. Visitors to the Craft Fair can enjoy an entirely different collection of stalls, with local traders selling items created both locally and imported from all over the world.

There will be a series of special events happening whilst the market is open. On the opening night there will be bands playing as well as activities for the children. Other events to watch out include the marking of St Nikolaus Day on December 6^th. This highlights Advent in Germany and there is also the popular open-air Carols, on December 13^th.

The Christmas market is open from the 13^th November until the 23^rd December.

“A few people are still baffled” says Chloe Robinson who has worked at the Coventry city centre branch for 7 years, she states “People often come in and ask if we still do pizza‘s, which we do, but its happening less often now as people are getting used to it.”

The Pizza Hut buffet is the main attraction to the restaurant, at £6  all you can eat, for Pizza, Pasta and Salad, are their pricy pasta’s going to sell?

 Alison Stewart the Coventry store manager stated “The buffet will always be one of the busiest times of the day, but we are getting a lot of customers who are opting to try the new pasta’s, we don’t sell many at buffet shift but once buffet is over a lot of people are trying out the new pastas.” 

 The Coventry restaurant has been one of the most successful in the re-branding of the franchise, Alison Stated “The restaurant is leading the way for the new pastas; we are currently the second highest sellers in the West Midlands. Coventry people really enjoy the option of having pasta’s at Pizza Hut, some customers have said that there is no where else to go for good pasta’s.”

 Though not all customers are happy John Evan’s recently tried the new pasta’s and was less than impressed “I tried the new Meatball Tagliatelle, it was an average dish but what really disappointed me was that the size of the pasta, at  £7 it was not big at all. It was the same size as my Childs meal and I was forking out for more.”

Britney Spears is causing commotion for all the right reasons; she is back with her new album titled ‘Circus.’ The pop veteran is on course for one of the biggest music comebacks in history, though most  argue she never left. The tabloid queen, who marks ten years in the music industry has already set tongues wagging with her provactive new video ‘Womanizer.’

Her recent performance on the X-Factor bought in record ratings with over 12.8 million viewers tuning in. The critics panned the lip-synched performance, leaving fans to write comments on the website. One fan wrote: “Britney’s performance was a disgrace. I don’t know how she had the nerve to stand on that stage and mime when ‘amateur’ singers gave such good performances. Simon Cowell should be ashamed to serve up such rubbish.”

The fascination with the pop princess is never ending, the public buy into the Britney brand, increasing her popularity regardless of whether we approve or not. We are living in Britney’s circus where she can do whatever she wants and still the whole world will be watching.

Britney’s new album ‘Circus’ is a commentary of the pop icons life, with songs such as ‘Kill The Lights,’ ‘If You Seek Amy’ and ‘Shattered Glass,’ the album stays true to Britney’s pop roots. After the turbulent year Britney had last year, where she shaved her head and was hospitalized twice to a psych ward, you would have thought she would have expressed her turmoil through her music. Instead Britney gives her fans another album packed with pop gems.

‘Circus’ is Britney’s best work to date, she has worked with Danja who worked on her last album ‘Blackout.’ Max Martin who bought Britney to fame with ‘Baby One More Time’ and Guy Sigworth who gave us the number one hit ‘Everytime.’

The second single ‘Circus’ is a great dance number with overflowing beats of savvy dance pop, its reminiscent of her earlier hits ‘Toxic’ and ‘I’m a Slave 4 You.’ In ‘Circus’ Britney trounces the paparazzi and shows that she is the ring leader of all the hype. Its ironic that she says she is the ringleader as she blasted the paparazzi last year in her hit ‘Piece Of Me.’  

Britney has already spawned a huge hit from the album ‘Womanizer,’ the song is jam packed with synthetic beats which are regurgitated throughout the song. Britney repeats ‘womanizer’ and astounding six times through out the chorus, which makes it one of the catchiest song of the year. The song has already  broke a record for the highest jump to number one in America. 

‘Circus’ brings Britney back to the forefront of pop music, this album cements Britney as the queen of pop.

 ‘Circus’ is released on the 1st December. 

The Christmas number one was once a fight to be the biggest artist of the year, a fight to the death. Teens would gather round their radios to hear the announcement that defined their Christmas. In the nineties the race for number one always had people talking; two singles would battle all week with odds stacked against each just to see who received the festive crown.

I remember waking up Christmas day and looked forward to watching Top of the Pops, excited to see Andy Peters present a truly festive show. If you mention Andy peters to people today they will probably cringe at you, but for teens like me he captured the essence of Christmas music.

These days there’s not one person who can not tell you that the X Factor winner will be the Christmas number one. The pop extravaganza has managed to grab the last three Christmas number ones, each of those singles selling 3.4million in total.

The X Factor has taken away the spectacle and hype that once surrounded the race for number one. Watched by over 12 million people each week, the show captivates viewers, through the process of elimination. By the end of the programme it doesn’t matter whether the Christmas single is good or not, the public will buy the single regardless. Leona Lewis who had a Christmas number one with ‘A Moment like This’, has one of the greatest voices to come out of Britain and without the X Factor she would not be where she is.

But how long can the X Factor keep clinching the Christmas number one? Will the public get bored? Or will an artist actually beat the X Factor with a good song? Established singers realise they have little chance of stealing the number one from Simon Cowell. Status Quo’s Francis Rossi has commented no matter how corny he makes his Christmas single, it will never beat the X Factor winner.

Francis said: “To be honest, our people said to us if we’re going to be number one, if it gets anywhere that high, it would be the week before Christmas. Christmas week belongs to Simon Cowell. Usually at Christmas The X Factor’s record is number one. What’s going to be different this year?”

The battle for number one was one a huge rivalry between artists, back in 2004 you had Westlife battling Bob the Builder and in 1997 it was between the Spice Girls and the Teletubbies. I can’t remember the last battle we had, but I have a feeling that once the X Factor has run its course, Christmas will be back.