HAVE YOU CONSIDERED STANDING TO BE A LOCAL COUNCILLOR?

By Selina Seesunkur

I was elected in 2018 and, having been a Councillor for over 3 years, I have met some incredibly wonderful people, who rather selflessly help members of their community and make their towns a better place. They do not do this to pursue political aspirations or to further professional ones, they are genuinely the salt of the earth and I feel humbled to know them. I believe that, to change the face of politics, we need more people who are community-focused and fewer traditional cut-throat politicians. This might be an ideological statement to make because there is a point in every politician’s life where you have to fight to survive, whether it is to be re-elected for another term, or just to gain a place in the management team or cabinet. However, I truly believe the purest of community champions would win any day of the week, as they are winners to the people they were elected to serve.

Being a Councillor is one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done, but can you be a community champion without entering politics? Yes, of course you can. We have quite a few residents who campaign because the Council have proposed something their community does not agree with, from developments to road closures. They petition, protest, and more.

So why become a Councillor if you can make a difference anyway? Well, there are things Councillors do that an activist or member of the public cannot do. In summary, if your Party is in control of the Council, i.e., they hold the majority of the seats, Councillors run the Council. This means they can set local policies, be part of a Cabinet that decides which schemes to run, and manage the public purse, (budget). If your party is in opposition, Councillors scrutinise the policies, schemes and budgets to ensure taxpayers’ money is being spent properly and in accordance with the needs of the community. Whilst Opposition Councillors have less power, they tend to petition and challenge more, and therefore can still make a significant difference.

Aerial Shot by Simon Taylor showing the land between the leisure centre and Larks Wood – 7th October 2020

In my borough (Waltham Forest, which is Labour controlled) the Council decided to propose a mature green forest space as a development site for over 200 homes. This would have replaced precious woodland with big blocks of flats. We had just entered lockdown, so traditional methods of gaining support, like door-knocking were off limits. Given this space was enriched with wildlife and mature trees, residents wanted to save the space, as did I. Once we had a consensus, my colleagues and I launched a petition and campaign “Save the Green Space”. Residents were so passionate about this space, we collectively gathered over 2,000 signatures and over 380 residents wrote letters to the Council. We were successful in saving this space, once known for its famous Larkswood Lido.

However, the story did not end there. A small Community Group, the Friends of Ainslie and Larks Wood (FOAL), teamed up with the Highams Park Plan Group and we all worked together on an application to designate the land as green open space, which would have protected it against future development. Given the overwhelming response by the public, the Council agreed to designate the space, meaning the space will not be built on during my lifetime and beyond. It is a legacy which will resonate with FOAL and me forever. It is moments like that which make me proud to be a Councillor. I was able to champion the cause with the Council as I was part of the Council and it was impossible for Officers and Councillors to ignore me. I was able to raise it at key meetings including Cabinet and the scrutiny committee and, because we were in lockdown, these meetings were televised, making it hard to ignore. If you have a bit of spare time and want to make a difference to your local area, please consider standing to be a Councillor, it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your lifetime.

Selina Seesunkur



MAKEUP FOR MANKIND

By Selina Seesunkur

Makeup for men has made a huge comeback. Some of you may ask “when was it ever in fashion?”

The men of Ancient Egypt wore a black pigment to highlight their eyes, creating a cat’s eye effect, as a sign of status and wealth. In the 1st century AD, Roman men were said to have applied red pigment to their cheeks, lighten their skin with powder, and paint their nails using a stomach-turning elixir of pig fat and blood. Like the Romans, Elizabethan men and women whitened their faces with a lead-based powder, but who could beat the French Aristocrats with their painted-on beauty spots, pink lips, ostentatious wigs, and heels. But then makeup seemed to have just gone out of fashion, perhaps because no-one relished the thought of having their heads removed just by standing out with makeup. Research suggests that the Victorians did in fact frown upon men wearing makeup and the trend ended. 

Makeup re-emerged with the invention of the television. Movie stars, both men and women, would use powder to take off the sheen and to emphasise their best assets. During the Eighties and Nineties, makeup was not as mainstream as it is now, it was a privilege normally reserved for the bold and flamboyant like Prince, Boy George and David Bowie.

However, it was only during the last decade that the makeup brands began to give more focus to male makeup. Yves St Laurent launched the male version of Touché eclat, whilst brands like Chanel launched their men’s line Boy De Chanel, Danny Gray launched War Paint, a complete collection of makeup for men, and MMUK MAN now sell foundations, concealers, guyliner, and mascara aimed solely at men. 

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Why is makeup for men so popular now? 

3.69 billion people use social media worldwide, equivalent to 58.11% of the world’s population. Male makeup artists use social media as a platform to gain exposure and have been successful in collaborating with brands to make money. Manny MUA has a following of over 4 million on Instagram alone. You-Tuber Jeffree Star has over 13 million followers, with his makeup brand Jeffree Star Cosmetics, now estimated to be worth $1.5 billion. Companies use social media to talent spot, selecting those users with the widest reach to promote their products which, by the time you hit the big time, are provided for free.

What about the non-makeup artist?  Men, like women, seem to have a need to look beautiful and flawless, again a pressure born out of social media. It is easy for us to say don’t use social media if it makes you feel ugly, that would be like telling children to just not go to school if they are being bullied., just excluding yourself should not be the necessary option. Social media is an integral part of modern life. The beauty industry has helped women for centuries by remedying their perceived flaws and imperfections, so why not men in this gender fluid society? According to Priya Elan for the Guardian, “Euromonitor predicts the men’s grooming and beauty market will be worth more than £49bn this year, a quadruple rise from what it generated in 2015”. Is this the end of the rugged man look that women are perceived to love so much? We will be competing with men to look pretty and feminine?  For some of us, yes.

Selina Seesunkur

Selina Seesunkur

I OBJECT TO MY DOG BEING TREATED LIKE AN OBJECT

By Selina Seesunkur

I have two Great Pyrenean Mountain dogs, Pyreneans are wanderers by nature, they are Mountain Dogs after all, so teaching our dogs their names and recall are lessons we never stop reinforcing, even though they are over 2 and 3 years old. However, with the increase in dog theft, taking our dogs for a walk has become something of a rollercoaster, even when using a long lead, supposing someone snips it off!

There have been numerous reports which suggest that owning a dog can reduce stress, depression and loneliness as dogs love us unconditionally, they even help people recover from personal trauma, like bereavement. Dogs make us healthier, and according to Purina, “children with chronic illnesses often cope better with treatment when they have a canine companion”. The Covid epidemic, has led to an increased demand for dogs, especially puppies. The Kennel Club reported a 168% increase in people searching for puppies for sale on its website from the beginning of lockdown up to the end of May, compared to the same period in 2019 across the UK. It has been recognised that owners are finding it hard to breed their dogs due to restrictions and demand is outweighing supply making dogs a lucrative commodity to criminals. According to Country Living, “Dog theft increased by a staggering 250% in 2020 due to gangs cashing in on the demand for puppies during lockdown”.  I do not see my dogs as a commodity; they are well-loved members of my family. 

dogs in a field

I have seen a number of petitions that have been bought forward by individuals and organisations; however, there seems to be not only a distrust but also dismay at response provided by Government so far. Hannah Louise Goldstraw started a petition calling to “Make dog theft a specific criminal offence”. It has been signed by over 190,000 people to date and a comprehensive response was given by the Government suggesting the following “The theft of a dog is already a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968 and the maximum penalty is seven years’ imprisonment.” This same act also covers stolen cars, art, mobile phones and many other objects. In fact the Act commences by stating “A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and “thief” and “steal” shall be construed accordingly.” Unlike my car however, my dog has a beating heart, it has legs and walks and barks. Surely they deserve better than to be treated like property. You would not class a child in the same way. 

According to the Dog’s Trust, in 2018, a mere 5% of reported dog thefts lead to a conviction, it is less now. Having liaised with the Secretary of State regarding knife crime, similar issues regarding convictions were raised. Why are convictions so low? I appreciate it is a balance act of resources and priorities but both knife crime and dog theft are growing at a rate no-one wishes to endure and yet both suffer from ineffective sentencing.

Whilst the law does legislate for dog theft under the Theft Act 1968, our pets are not the same as a replaceable object. Pets have a heart, a personality, they are a major part of the family and I am yet to meet anyone who would tell you otherwise. I see a few beaming smiles every time my dog gate-crashes Zoom meetings. Just imagine what he is like to live with, I smile every day. My female dog is way too independent, but she bounces around and does the best ‘I am so excited to see you’ dance, even if I am just coming downstairs. These moments are priceless, and irreplaceable. Insurance won’t bring these personalities back. And therefore I, like many others, object to a dog simply being treated like an object. We would like to see dog theft enforced robustly and for the legislation to be reviewed, so dogs and other pets are protected in their own right.

Pet Theft