Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

Ke$ha Joins Campaign To Ban Animal-Tested Cosmetics In Europe

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‘Animal’ Singer Ke$ha Joins Campaign To Ban Animal-Tested Cosmetics In Europe

American singer Ke$ha has joined stars Leona Lewis, Ricky Gervais, Dame Judi Dench, Mary McCartney and Melanie C, in urging EU politicians to keep their promise to ban the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals such as rabbits and hamsters [1].

The stars, and more than 60,000 compassionate consumers, have signed the CrueltyFree2013 petition organised by animal charity Humane Society International [2] urging EU politicians to make Europe a cruelty-free cosmetics zone by 2013.

Animal testing for cosmetics is banned in the UK and EU, but it is still legal to sell animal-tested products and ingredients imported from countries such as Brazil, China, Canada and the United States.

A European Union-wide ban on the sale of animal-tested cosmetics is due to come into force in March 2013, and could be a major step toward a global end to cosmetics animal testing. However, as the 2013 deadline approaches, the European Commission has hinted the ban may be delayed, perhaps by many years [3]. The lives of thousands of rabbits, hamsters, mice and guinea-pigs hangs in the balance.

Ke$ha signed HSI’s CrueltyFree2013 petition as her first collaboration with animal charity Humane Society International following her appointment as the charity’s first ever Global Ambassador.

Ke$ha said:
“I am honored to be the first HSI Global Ambassador because my music is inspired by the freedom and primal beauty of animals and the natural world. I take this opportunity incredibly seriously because we are ALL animals. One of the main underlying sentiments of my music is to respect all living creatures just as they are. I believe that together, we can change laws that allow innocent animals to be unjustly mistreated and abused all over the world.”

Ke$ha’s goal is to help HSI promote respect, protection, and compassion for animals around the world. Her record of musical success is impressive – her hit “TiK ToK” was the biggest-selling digital track in the world in 2010 and her “Animal” album has already sold over 2 million units worldwide. She’s racked up a number of prestigious award nominations, and took home a 2010 MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act.

Readers can join Ke$ha in signing the CrueltyFree2013 petition at www.hsi.org/crueltyfree2013

HSI is part of the international ‘Leaping Bunny’ cruelty-free standard. Approved brands are independently audited to guarantee no animal testing and include Urban Decay, Hard Candy, Montagne Jeunesse, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Superdrug. To shop cruelty-free download our Leaping Bunny Compassionate Shopping Guide at http://www.leapingbunny.org/images/globalguide.pdf

Recession Delays Women Having Babies

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The recession is having a direct effect on birth rates, with one in four women being forced to delay or reconsider having a baby, according to the 2011 Red National Fertility Report.

The results, published in Red’s October issue out on Tuesday 6th September 2011, shows the effect the recession has had on women trying for a baby – from how much they would be prepared to pay in order to conceive, to postponing motherhood due to redundancy and the rising costs of living. The report surveyed over 2,500 Red Magazine readers aged 30-45.

Key findings include:

· The recession has resulted in a 25% drop in babies tried for, with 10% of women saying the recession had made them postpone trying for a baby, and 15% saying they’d decided not to try at all.

· Baby prices have dropped more than house prices – with the average amount women would be prepared to spend to conceive dropping from £15,000 to £12,000 – a 20% drop in just 12 months. * The average house price is down 2.65% from July 2010 to £163.981 – Halifax House Price Index.

· The percentage of women who would be prepared to spend £50,000 to guarantee them a baby has dropped even more dramatically from 10% to 6% – a 40% drop over the same period.

· Following increased financial pressure on the NHS, when it comes to offering free IVF, 62% of women don’t think it should be available for anyone who wants it – up 17% from 2007 (45%). This suggests that when funds are tight, fewer women perceive having a baby as a right for all.

· Due to lack of IVF on the NHS, 61% have paid for IVF privately, with only one in five getting all their treatment for free.

Sam Baker, Editor-in-chief of Red Magazine, said of the findings: “This report provides an incredible in-depth view on the effect the recession has had on women’s baby plans.
The comparable figures show that the last year has hit women and their families hard, with many having to postpone or reconsider trying for a baby.”

Brigid Moss, Red magazine’s Health Director added: “Fertility treatment can be expensive, and this report shows that fewer people have been able to afford it, while the NHS provision for fertility treatment remains a postcode lottery. The report shows that having problems trying to conceive and treatment is also stressful, too. Both of these factors only add to the stress of someone who’s having problems trying to conceive.”

THE REPORT IN FULL:

MONEY

· The recession has resulted in a 25% drop in babies tried for, with 10% of women saying the recession had made them postpone trying for a baby, and 15% saying they’d decided not to try at all.

· Baby prices have dropped more than house prices – with the average amount women would be prepared to conceive dropping from £15,000 to £12,000 – a 20% drop in just 12 months.

· The number of women prepared to spend over £50,000 to guarantee them a baby has dropped even more dramatically from 10% to 6 % – a 40% drop over the same period.

· Due to lack of IVF on the NHS, 61% have paid for IVF privately, with only one in five getting all their treatment for free.

· A staggering 100% of women surveyed would, or have, cut back on school fees to pay for fertility treatment. 94% of women say they would cut back on all aspects of their lives to pay for fertility treatment if they needed it (includes holidays, eating out, pensions, savings, health insurance, clothes and selling possessions).

· Most women paying for fertility treatment have said that the money came from savings (88%), but 17% received a gift or loan from their family, 13% took on extra work and 13% put fertility costs on their credit card.

· 23% would consider moving / down-grading their house to get free NHS IVF provision to help them conceive.

· 17% of women who need fertility treatment have been prevented because of the costs, and 12% said the recession has directly prevented them from having treatment or more treatment.

GOVERNMENT POLICY / NHS

· Following increased financial pressure on the NHS, when it comes to offering free IVF, 62% of women don’t think it should be available for anyone who wants it – this is up 17% from 2007 (45%). This suggests that when funds are tight, fewer women perceive having a baby as a right for all

· 74% of women believe the government should ensure women are provided with three free cycles of IVF on the NHS.

· 95% think it’s unfair that there are different NHS IVF provisions depending on where you live.

· Nearly 60% believe that women should be given IVF on the NHS even if they have a child with their current partner, rising to 90% if they have a child from a previous relationship.

· BUT 62% don’t think that IVF should be available on the NHS to anyone who wants it.

SUCCESS CONCEIVING

· 23% of the women asked have had problems conceiving.

· For those who have had IVF treatment, 38% have only had it once, and 10% have had it more than five times.

· When it comes to the success of IVF, 45% got pregnant and had a baby, 31% didn’t conceive and 5% conceived naturally.

· 18% would consider going abroad for treatment if provisions were not available at home.

STRESS

· Fertility treatment is more stressful than the recession – 59% found it more stressful than dealing with financial concerns.

· 40% find the process more distressing than the ending of a relationship.

· Three in four (71%) found it more stressful than moving house.

· Nearly two thirds (62%) found fertility treatment more stressful than being made redundant.

· A third of women (36%) said that fertility problems made them depressed with 2% even signing off work due to stress / mental health problems.

· Nearly half of women(47%) said their husbands found it hard to cope when they were not getting pregnant.

EGG FREEZING

· 27% of women have considered freezing their eggs for the future.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Film Review

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The Planet of the Apes is a franchise that has been going strong since I was a kid. Actually, the original was one of my favourite films.

With scientists admitting that they were doing tests on monkeys, and fresh Daily Mail worries about animal/human hybrid experiments, it makes it all the more real and scary.

The Rise of the Planet of the Apes has the amazingly talented Andy Serkis as Caesar, and what a performance.

In support, James Franco plays Will Rodman, whose father, played by John Lithgow, has Alzheimers. Rodman tries desperately to cure his father and the key lies in Caesar who receives an amazing amount of intelligence and self awareness due to the the drug ALZ 112 previously injected into his mother. But the drug doesn’t get funded after Caesar’s mother seemingly turns violent and is killed.

But it’s Serkis’ Caesar who steals the film. We see him unsure of his place in the world, missing his family, feeling different, like an outsider and wondering why his kind are treated differently. Andy Serkis should be allowed the Oscar.

This film has been a runway success so far, taking $54.8m in its opening weekend. Deservedly too. It is a good film, lots of action, well acted and you care for the characters. ‘Rise’ is timely and good entertainment. In short, I recommend it for a perfect fun night out while definitely giving you something to think about over your post-film pizza.

Stylists Talk Bags As Converse Launch New Range

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With Converse launching their first bag collection just in time for the new school year, a handful of the UK’s finest experts on style and self-expression representing fashion, music and culture reminisced about what defined their own unique style, getting nostalgic about what it means to be an individual once the new term begins. Provided simply with a canvas duffle bag from the Converse Bags & Accessories launch collection, a pencil case and notebook, they got creative to express their personal style in their very own special way…

Sam Voulters
About: Fashion Editor at Vice, Sam Voulters is 22, stylist, brand consultant and writer.
What was your favourite school bag? “I had a CAT backpack with tippex all over it.”

‘Synamatix’ – The Daily Street
About: ‘Synamatix’ is Editor in Chief & Mixtapes Director of the UK’s finest streetwear blog The Daily Street and specialises in sneakers and menswear as well as covering the UK underground dance music scene.
What was your favourite school bag or accessory? “I had a wicked rucksack in olive green, covered in band logos, skate logos etc. That was my greatest bag by a mile.”

Chantelle Fiddy
About: Chantelle Fiddy is a journalist and renowned commentator on London’s grime scene, whose music credentials include penning for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, RWD Magazine, Mixmag, Sunday Times Style and Dazed & Confused as well as presenting on Channel 4’s ‘Generation Next’ and making multiple appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Review Show. You’ll mostly find her online.
Describe your school style. “My school style flitted between record bags and (hideous) rave jackets (I hereby admit to rocking a Technics number) to holding my (entire mop of unbrushed) hair up with felt tip pens and wearing leg warmers alongside my yellow shirt and green blazer.”

Larry B – WORK IT
About: Ripe for reminiscing are some of the team behind London’s coolest 90s night, Work It. Work It have a reputation for drawing the biggest crowds with a cult following craving their unique blend of music, hosting nights and events for Selfridges, Lovebox 2010, Warner Music, London Fashion Week and Vogue Fashion Night Out.
Describe your style at school. “My style at school was your general London rudeboy schoolboy.”

About Converse Bags:
For AW ’11 Converse took the illustrious heritage and iconic style, that has seen their classic sneakers and Chuck Taylor All Star logo omnipresent since the 1900s, to create their first ever dedicated Bags & Accessories Collection. The debut collection reflects the simple and versatile styling synonymous with Converse complete with the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star logo, steel eyelet details and the ever versatile canvas.

The new line of Converse Bags & Accessories is available now at stockists including Schuh, JD Sports and www.blackleaf.com. Prices range from £19 – £54.95

BBC Children in Need Announce POP Goes The Musical

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BBC Children in Need has announced the launch of ‘BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical 2011’.

Working with the best of West End Theatre and a star-studded line up, this unique charity project is giving renowned celebrities from the music sphere the chance to perform a hit song from a top show, to take place in September to help raise vital funds for children and young people here in the UK.

The show-stopping celebrities involved in a series of unique curtain calls are the gorgeous Peter Andre performing GHOST the Musical’s spectacular number ‘Unchained Melody’, the loveable Stacey Solomon for WICKED to sing ‘For Good’, chart-toppers Sugababes will take on ‘Dancing Queen’ in MAMMA MIA! And the legendary Melanie C will sing the highly charged ‘We Are The Champions’ and ‘We Will Rock You’ in the Queen musical WE WILL ROCK YOU.

Don’t miss out on what’s set to be a week of nights to remember and your chance to experience a series of pop-tastic performances.

Bookings can be made immediately for the following dates at:

10th September 2011 – WICKED – ‘popping up’ is Stacey Solomon (Matinee Performance)

13th September 2011 – WE WILL ROCK YOU – ‘popping up’ is Melanie C

14th September 2011 – GHOST the Musical – ‘popping up’ is Peter Andre

15th September 2011 – MAMMA MIA! – ‘popping up’ is Sugababes

Tickets for ‘BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical 2011’ are available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/. Prices start from £25 with all proceeds going to BBC Children in Need.

“I’m so excited to be a part of the musical WICKED. I went to see the show and was completely blown away by the costumes and performances. It’s going to be scary to get up on a West End stage but I’m so happy to take on the challenge and get involved in BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical.” – Stacey Solomon

“I am so excited to be taking part in ‘Pop Goes The Musical’ for this year’s BBC Children In Need, especially as I will be performing with the cast of the incredible show, We Will Rock You. I have always been a huge Queen fan and standing on the stage of the Dominion Theatre to sing one of the band’s anthems is an absolute honour and a great way raise money for such a fantastic charity.” – Melanie C

“I was so impressed when I went to see GHOST the Musical. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. So when I was approached by BBC Children In Need to get involved, I jumped at the chance and just hope that I can do it justice! The cast are great so it’ll be so much fun working with them and raising money for an amazing cause all at the same time.” – Peter Andre

“We’re so excited to be part of BBC Children In Need this year. It’s such a great cause and helps so many people and to be able to join the cast of MAMMA MIA!, one of the West End’s most famous musicals, is a real honour for us.” – Sugababes

BBC Children in Need changes the lives of some of the most disadvantaged children and young people right here in the UK. The charity supports children in the UK facing a range of disadvantages including poverty and deprivation, young people with disabilities and children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect.

Due to the incredible generosity of the public in 2010, BBC Children in Need has awarded £40 million to change young lives r and this year we need your help to beat this total!

For more information on the charity please visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/

Interview: Iwan Thomas MBE

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As an athlete, Iwan Thomas MBE has been there, done it, and got the medals to prove it, including a gold from the 1997 World Championships. When it comes to track and field, he knows his onions, which is why he’s landed a plum job as commentator for Channel 4’s coverage of the World Athletics Championships from Daegu in South Korea. Here, we take the opportunity to pick his brain regarding Britain’s best medal hopefuls, as well as Usain Bolt, Oscar Pistorius and much more.

The World Championships are almost upon us. Are you excited?
I am, actually. It’ll be a bit strange going to a World Championships and not being a competitor, being on the other side of the fence, but I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’m a bit worried about the food – you see people on Twitter [Iwan tweets as @Iwanrunner], showing pictures of people eating live octopus and things like that. It’ll be interesting. Maybe I’ll lose some weight over the two weeks. But I’m really looking forward to it.

Who do you see as Great Britain’s outstanding medal prospects this time around?
You’ve obviously got Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu – they’re both reigning World Champions and will be trying to defend their titles. Then you’ve got other athletes who have had a massive breakthrough in the last couple of years, like Dai Greene, and also Jenny Meadows in the 800m, she’s running really well this year. I’d never say anyone was a banker, because athletics is a pretty strange sport, but you’d be looking at those guys to get medals. You’ve also got people like Chris Tomlinson and Greg Rutherford, both in the long jump. At the recent Diamond League meeting at Crystal Palace, they came second and third, and Chris has got a British record this year, so he’s in tremendous form. I think in major championships it’s all about the underdogs coming through and doing well, so you never know. As a whole, the British team is in a pretty good place.

You’ve got athletes like Christine Ohuruogu, who’s always been a big event runner, but she’s not had a good year this year, has she?
No. She’s had a few injuries. I’d be very surprised if she became World Champion again. Don’t forget she’s a world champion and Olympic champion, though, so you can never count her out. She’s a performer. But if you look at current form, she’s had these injuries, and she’s struggling this year. It’d be fantastic to see her run well, and it would also be really good for the women’s 4×400 relay squad as well- they’re all doing well at the moment. You’ve got Christine, the likes of Jenny Meadows who can come down to 4×400, and you’ve got Perri Shakes-Drayton, who’s another emerging talent this year in the 400m hurdles. She’s someone to look out for, she’s an outside chance for a medal as well.

Talking of athletes who have really broken through in the last couple of years, Mo Farah must be up there as well.
Oh yeah, 100%. I don’t want to put the kiss of death on him, but Mo is in the best form of his life. He’s beautiful to watch, he’s not scared of the big athletes, he’s beaten everybody. It’ll be interesting to see whether he tries to do the double [run both 5000m and 10,000m] but without a doubt, Mo is someone I can’t wait to watch. Without putting the medal round his neck and putting pressure on him, I’d be very surprised if he didn’t become world champion.

What sort of shape do you think British athletics is in as a whole at the moment?
I think it’s pretty good. Three or four years ago it was going through a bit of a transitional phase – a lot of good athletes had retired, a lot of guaranteed medallists – the likes of Jonathan Edwards, Steve Backley, Colin Jackson, Denise Lewis and so on. Everybody retired, and it left a bit of a hole. But over the last two or three years, we’ve got the new stars coming through. It’s exciting times, it really is.

Away from team GB, who are you looking forward to watching?
Obviously any athlete in the 100m final. That’s the blue riband event, I can’t wait to watch that. It’s going to be interesting to see Usain Bolt, because although he’s not been beaten this year, he’s not running as convincingly as he has in the past. He’s going to be under a little bit of pressure. I think he’s going to win the 200m, but the 100m is by no means a foregone conclusion. If his countryman, Asafa Powell, can get himself together -he’s had a few injuries – who knows? I don’t think Usain Bolt will be in a position to celebrate ten metres before the line this time, he’ll be pushed all the way.

What else are you looking forward to?
I always enjoy my old event, the 400m. It’s close to my heart. To be honest, I’m just a massive athletics fan, so all the events. I’m looking forward to watching Goldie Sayers in the javelin as well – she’s had a good year this year. I’m so excited about the whole thing. I think a lot of events will be really close. As a neutral, that has to make for a really exciting spectacle.

You mentioned the 400m. One of the stories of the championships is going to be Oscar Pistorius, isn’t it? What do you think about his presence there? [Pistorius is a double amputee who runs on special carbon fibre artificial limbs]
I think it’s great for the sport, and great for Paralympic sport. I know there’s a lot of controversy behind it. I’m probably a little bit biased, because I’m friends with Oscar and I’ve trained with him, but he’s worked very hard to get where he has done, and I think you’ve got to take your hat off to him. Long may it continue. The bottom line is he’s been cleared to run by the governing body, so let him run. It’ll put a few people’s noses out of joint, because he’s going to beat a lot of able-bodied athletes, but I think it’s fantastic for him and the sport.

How far do you think he can go in the competition?
A good lane draw is vital. If he’s drawn in lane 1 and it’s raining, it’s not good for him – he doesn’t like running in rain. But if he gets a good lane, then I think he could definitely make the semi-finals, and when you make the semis of a world championships, anything can happen on the day. He’ll have to run near his best to get through the heats, but I think he’ll do that.

Channel 4 is covering the event for the first time this year. What can we expect from their coverage?
I hope we do the sport justice. You’ll have a lot of people who are used to having watched it on the BBC for years, but I think we’ll do it slightly different. I think we could make it very modern, and appeal to the masses. There will be different audiences watching it – you’ve got your die-hard athletics fans who know everything, and also hopefully newcomers to the sport who won’t understand all the technicalities behind the events,. So it’s our job to try and portray that without being patronising. I think, hopefully, we’ll do a good job, and people will come away and enjoy the coverage.

Are you looking forward to working with Michael Johnson?
Definitely. I can’t wait to work with Michael. I had a long career against him, and I’ve got a lot of respect for him as an athlete. I also respect him as a pundit as well. I think he’s very good at his job, he tells it how it is, and I’m looking forward to sitting next to him on a sofa and hopefully forming a nice little double act together.

How have you taken to life in front of the camera? Are you enjoying it?
Yeah, I am actually. I think my career was cut short with bad injuries, and I never got back to running fast after the injuries, and don’t get me wrong, I’d rather be ten years younger and still competing, but if I can’t do that, the next best thing is trying to help others enjoy the sport that I love so much. I really enjoy TV work.

You’re still the British 400m record holder. Do you want to keep that, or would you like to see it broken, because that would mean the next great 400m runner was coming through?
If I’m honest, a bit of both. As a lover of the sport, I’m really surprised it’s still standing. You’d think with technology, and better understanding of nutrition and training, it would go. As a lover of the sport, I‘d definitely like to see my British record go. But it also indicates to me how good our generation was. In 1998 Roger Black came forth in our British trials, running 44.6. Someone running 44.6 would be number one in the world this year.

Was that one of the secrets of your success, that you, Roger, Jamie Baulch and so on were all pushing each other on?
Absolutely, 100 per cent. Domestic rivalry is crucial. If I hadn’t had to run 44.3 to be Britain’s best, perhaps I would have only run 44.8. I still would have trained as hard, but subconsciously I think you need to be pushed on. We’ve always had great 400m runners. Half of me is very proud to have the British record, but if I’m honest, I’d like to see it go.

Lastly, you alluded to this at the beginning, but how will you feel being out there trackside when the 400m final is going on?
I miss it every day. Whenever I’m out there and there’s a 400m race about to start, I get the jitters and want to start doing my stretches. I think to myself, “You know what? I could still do that.” But I can’t, I don’t train and I’m old. I miss the sport every day. You can guarantee, when the 400m is on, I’ll be on the edge of my seat, jumping around like a loon, because I’ll wish that I was still out there.

Athletics: IAAF World Championships 2011 starts Saturday 27 August. Iwan Thomas is part of Channel 4’s team of experts who will be bringing you extensive coverage from Deagu, with expert opinions, in depth interviews and live commentary of the entire Championships.

For the latest Athletics: IAAF World Championships 2011 News – http://athletics.channel4.com/index.html

By Benjie Goodhart

Thanks to Channel 4’s coverage of the IAAF World Championships 2011.

Drugs, Drink & Driving Set To Trigger Lethal Festival Cocktail

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Drug and drink driving, coupled with a lack of insurance were expected to cause a surge in the number of people arrested while attending the August Bank Holiday festivals last weekend.

With thousands of revellers hitting the roads for the hugely popular Creamfields, Reading and Leeds festivals, leading motoring solicitors were bracing themselves for a busy few days.

Matt Reynolds, a solicitor with Just Motor Law, said: “Festivals inevitably see a sharp rise in the use of illegal drugs and alcohol and we would expect to see a number of motoring arrests in relation to these.

“However, another growing area of concern is the amount of people being tempted to drive without insurance because they cannot afford the ever-increasing premiums.

“We would urge all people attending festivals being held this Bank Holiday Weekend to think through the consequences of being stopped for drink or drug driving or lack of insurance.”

Young men aged between 17 and 29 are believed to be the most likely to drive while on illegal drugs. Cannabis is known to distort a driver’s perception of time and distance, cocaine causes aggressive and risky driving, amphetamines such as speed impair coordination, while Ecstasy causes blurred vision and poor judgement. Looking for a drug rehab near me can help with overcoming the issue.

Police currently have no equivalent to an alcohol breathalyser to test for drugs and instead use a Field Impairment Test (FIT). Tests can include standing on one leg, touching your nose with the tip of your finger and closing your eyes and estimating when 30 seconds have elapsed.

Reynolds added: “People who are arrested on suspicion of any motoring offences while attending music festivals need to ensure they get the right support immediately. They have a right to be represented at a police station and, should it be required, to be defended in a court of law.”

Just Motor Law – www.justmotorlaw.co.uk – provides specialist legal advice on all motoring offences with a 24-hour hotline and online live chat facility. The company also specialises in providing clients with technical defences, challenging equipment used by police officers and highlighting any failure to conform with rules of evidence.