Gair Rhydd

Animal rights and wrongs

Ethical treatment of animals is one of the most controversial topics of recent times. gair rhydd investigates the issue at hand

The widely debated issue of animal testing is subject to various ethical, political and economic speculations. The disturbing images of vivisection presented to us in the media causes many to dogmatically refute the practise and question its relevance to scientific and medical advancements.

Divided opinion prevails among scientists, ethicists and the general public. Many claim that animal testing is a brutal practise which allows scientists to easily feed their curiosity at the cost of innocent animal lives. Others argue that vivisection is an integral part of medical advancement which has, and will continue to, improve the human condition.

Six degrees of separation

It is claimed that everyone in the world is linked by only six degrees. Robin Morgan tries to find new friends with this concept

I’m sitting here on the World Wide Web, searching for (and no wa$1$3talking) people, and it’s all for a feature. It’s definitely not stalking. Honest. ‘Six degrees of separation’ is a theory that one person is only six degrees of separation away from any other person in the world. Hence the name.

I’ll put it in perspective. If you’ve met someone (1) who has met Gordon Brown (2), then you are three degrees of separation away from Barack Obama (3). I’ve taken this very scientific theory and applied to scientific journal known as Facebook. You may know it as Facey-B, or FBC. It’s pretty underground.

Freshers: initiate this

Initiations are now a big part of university clubs and societies. Are they just a rite of passage or something more sinister?

When thinking of initiation, the first things that come to mind are definitely alcohol, embarrassment and banter, all served in copious amounts.

The stories that emerge year after year about initiations into various sports clubs and societies never fail to shock, and make people shiver at the thought of some of the delicacies that are served up, such as pints of maggots and pet food.

Bywyd yn yr ail flwyddyn

Unwaith eich bod yn dechrau byw mewn ty yn hytrach na neuadd breswyl y Brifysgol, fel arfer ar ddechrau’r ail flwyddyn, digon buan y dewch ar draws y problemau sy’n codi, er enghraifft delio gyda’r perchennog.

Pan ddeuthum i a’m ffrindiau i’n ty teras ddiwedd Medi (ar ol talu am fis Awst, wrth gwrs, er nad oeddem yno) roedd disgwyl i ni beintio un o’r waliau ein hunain a hyd yn oed gosod rheilen ar gyfer llenni. Llenni, pa lenni? Ni ddarparwyd llenni yn fy ystafell wely i o gwbl, doedd dim wardrob ac roedd yr unig gadair yn fy stafell yn gwbl annigonol. A phan ofynnodd fy ffrind am lenni ar gyfer ei hystafell hithau yn yr atig ateb y perchennog oedd i osod poster dros y ffenest. Yna, ar ol inni wneud copïau o’r allweddi fe benderfynodd e newid y cloeon felly roedd rhaid gwneud copïau newydd gan bod yr hen rai’n gwbl ddiwerth!

Being green on a budget

Everyone's feeling the pinch so here are some tips on staying green while watching the purse strings

In the run up to the Copenhagen Climate Talks, all eyes are on the governments. But it’s not just Obama and Co who can make a change. You can too!

I hear you thinking: “Why would you want to, it’s all so expensive and costs so much effort!” Well, I won’t tell you to get a solar panel or wind turbine. These methods are not expensive, need minimal effort and will save you money! Think less impact on the environment and more money in your pocket.

Placebo mystery solved

The effects of placebos are not 'all in the mind'

A placebo is a fake medical intervention. For example, a patient is given an inert sugar pill, told that it may improve his/her condition, but not told that it is in fact medication. Such an intervention may cause the patient to believe the treatment will be helpful and this belief often materializes into substance.

If you thought the placebo effect was all in the mind, then perhaps think again. Scientists may have solved the mystery of why many people around the world claim to benefit from remedies that do not contain any active pain-relief ingredients.

Newsbites

Cardiff tumour research awarded

A researcher from Cardiff’s Institute of Medical Genetics has won the Welsh Livery Guild’s Merit Award for his research on therapy for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.

Students: apply now, play later

Jobs and Money speak to interview guru and industry expert David Baker about how to increase your chances of employment

Thousands of hopeful students are losing out on the chance of their dream job – because they are not being pro-active enough and applying now. That’s according to interview and industry expert David Baker, who has 15 years of experience placing graduates in jobs.

While some companies such as BT are cutting back on graduate employment others, including Barclays and Microsoft, are creating new placements.