TRANSFORMER MARCH 2021 NEW WRITERS' PORTAL TRANSFORMER NEW WRITERS' PORTAL Illustration © Ruki Chuki Ruki © Illustration 25 TRANSFORMER MARCH 2021 NEW WRITERS' PORTAL takeoff: issue 1 TRANSFORMER TRANSFORMER Curators of tomorrow's writers WELCOME to the first edition of TRANSFORMER Contents A new writers’ portal and a platform for change. 27 Ruki Chuki; TRANSFORMER is an intelligent digest by today’s TRANSFORMER's cover illustrator new writers and voices from around the globe. It 28 Want to get involved with politics? offers an incisive, bold look at a rapidly changing It’s easier than you think world inviting opinions and solutions for change 29 Communication Warfare A Brave New World? Writers invite us to look at key issues to bring about change in society, from environmental From cancer-case to marathon runner in 5 years through to political issues, human rights to One man’s race against cancer fashion, satire, the latest in entertainment 30 Is Fashion out of Fashion? and social media, new heights in tech, gaming, Has COVID changed fashion for good? streaming, healthy lifestyles, literature and travel, 31 A Love letter to the dinner party as well as showcasing new artists’ works.. Dinner is served Appetite for consumption This first edition contains a dizzying range of Supermarkets of the future perspectives and views. We hope you enjoy 32 A Growing Problem: How global reading them as much as we have. food production is draining the If you would like to submit an article world’s water Water everywhere but not a drop to for publication please do write to us at: drink... [email protected] 33 The Cycle of Exploration: Astrobiology's cyclical nature Looking to the stars to understand the earth 34 The Loss of Cultural Authenticity: THE 21ST CENTURY offers many avenues for new writers through Travel in the time of COVID The high cost of low price travel the constant turnover of the online world, however it remains as difficult as ever to be heard or published. At the beginning of their 35 Games to look out for careers many writers spend internships at publications updating twitter feeds or making coffee rather than building portfolios. 36 Alt Right and Gaming It is getting harder and harder for authors to break into Personal Space Invaders journalism, but our need for fresh perspectives and new ideas has 37 Gender equality never been greater. It is vital that they have a stand-alone platform. Dealing with unwanted advances We are proud to offer it with TRANSFORMER, a portal for change, offering new writers a platform to explore today's important issues Six ways to stay positive with voices of tomorrow. Help in Lockdown The publication will amplify new writers’ ideas and words so they The Psychology of Isolation can be heard over the blanketing tinnitus of online discourse; to take 38 Stay sane whilst staying alive them from a whisper to a shout. TRANSFORMER 39 To Dare is to Do; TRANSFORMER acts as a CAREER HUB curating new and I love you Tottenham inspirational writers’ work and portfolios for potential employers. Faith in fallibility 26 TRANSFORMER MARCH 2021 NEW WRITERS' PORTAL TRANSFORMER This month's front cover illustration Our lovely TRANSFORMER cover illustration is by illustrator/designer Ruki Chuki. UKI is a London based illustrator working as a Rcreative director. She loves experimenting with colours and with body shapes. During lockdown her style evolved by searching for inspiration from within, rather than being influenced by the outside world. The full range of her work can be seen at www. rukichuki.com and on her Instagram profileruki_chuki. 27 TRANSFORMER MARCH 2021 NEW WRITERS' PORTAL TRANSFORMER Want to get more involved in politics but don’t know how? Here are a few ideas By Ziad Qattan Cartoon © Saffron Swire www.saftirical.com Swire Saffron © Cartoon Whether it’s signing a petition, getting elected, or starting a mass movement, here are a few ways to create change on issues that matter to you: Read, listen, and learn… Educate yourself. Knowledge and passion are the basis for any political project. Whatever you care about or want to change, learn as much as you can about it first. And don’t just stick to traditional news sources. Check out reddit forums (there’s one on virtually everything), look for lesser-known blogs, YouTube channels, and Facebook groups. Join a debating club to sharpen your public speaking and persuasion skills. debatematevirtual. com run a ten-week online course at the start of every school term. For a free option, check out meetup.com where you can join discussion groups and societies over TRANSFORMER Zoom, or in person. See what is already out there. There are hundreds of campaigns, clubs, charities, or online Highlands, all accessible from your bedroom in your university’s student union elections, or groups where you can find people who share your desktop. standing for local councillor are all ways to get political goals. You’d be surprised. Speak to them involved in politics. You’ll learn how to create a first before embarking on whatever it is you want Join a political party and register to message which resonates with people, formulate to do. Learn from their experiences, and don’t vote! a campaign strategy, and gain incredible on-the- duplicate something that already exists. Start ground experience. something new! If you don’t know where to start, check out There are no lower age limits on joining the Green YouthPolitics.org.uk, the award winning non-profit Party, Liberal Democrats, or Conservative Party. dedicated to giving youth a voice. Keep an eye out You can join the Labour Party if you’re 14 or over. Volunteer for a charity at home on their events page, where they have a busy line- Read their manifestos and decide where you and abroad up of workshops, discussions, and panels ranging stand! from debating to political journalism. Becoming a member allows you to participate From food banks to football coaching, non-profits There’s also the British Youth Parliament. If you in the internal elections of a party. That means make up a huge part of our life and economy, are aged 11-18, you can stand or vote in elections you get a say in who your leader is, what policies but they are often underfunded and rely on every two years. If elected, you’ll get to debate the party will advocate, which candidates are committed and passionate volunteers. Give up in the real House of Commons and House of selected to stand in local and general elections, a bit of your time after school, study, or work, Lords, hold meetings with your local MP and local and more. and you will get huge gratification and valuable residents, and make regular visits to Parliament. Depending on your party, you can also become job skills in return. Check out these volunteering The next elections will be held in March 2022. a ‘youth officer’ in your local area, and run for databases for job opportunities near you: Now is the time to start planning! charityjob.co.uk is the UK’s largest job election yourself, in the youth wing of the party. board for the nonprofit sector. With thousands You need to register to vote before you can of positions available, you are bound to find vote in UK elections or referendums. In England Say it louder, and spread the word! something for you. and Northern Island, the voting age is 18, but this vinspired.com is the UK's only online platform does not mean you can’t volunteer, or campaign Write to your MP, create a TikTok video, start a dedicated to connecting young volunteers with for a political party during an election beforehand. petition on change.org, or stage a protest… Be the causes they care about, helping them build Most parties will also run activities throughout cheeky and creative. Don’t be afraid to make skills, networks and confidence. the year, not only in election time. Contact your trouble or upset people. The truth needs to be Do you have three or more years professional local party branch to find out about leafleting, heard loud and clear. experience? ReachVolunteering.org connects door-step canvassing, and more. Creating change will be challenging. You skilled volunteers to charities who desperately will face resistance, sometimes viciously, but need them. Stand for election be thorough, consistent, and clear in what you The world is bigger than the UK... Goabroad. advocate. Don’t be afraid to dream, but also com has tons of online volunteering opportunities If you think you’re too young, you’re probably remember that winning small battles can lead to from the Moroccan Sahara to the Peruvian not. Becoming a student representative, running something bigger. 28 TRANSFORMER MARCH 2021 NEW WRITERS' PORTAL TRANSFORMER Chinese bots propagating anti-vaccine content in the US, action will be a long time coming. Time for on social media, the scale and impact of state- New digital rights laws in the UK would serve sponsored communications warfare is dramatically as a good placeholder for more comprehensive communications increasing. change. Meaningful action on state-sponsored Just as Herakles needed new tactics to disinformation is also required. A good place to warfare fight the Hydra, democratic states need new start would be to expand the brief of the DCMS By Jasper Rose approaches to fight communications warfare. This subcommittee on disinformation: communications is where the concept of strategic communications policy needs to have a central role in both comes in. It suggests that to be effective in domestic and foreign planning.