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People and Planet

Growing a Greener Future

Building Stronger Communities

Forgotten Voices

BOUNDLESS

Cont ent s- 3 ....... Arkbound Opportunit ies

- 4 ....... News

- 5 ....... Community Spot l ightLove Bristol

- 6 ....... The Gal leryArt, creative writ ing and poetry

- 14 ...... Local InterviewWith Kunchok Nimya

- 15 ...... Views f rom AfarIndian Vistas

- 16 ...... The SoapboxThe Labour Party on voter apathy

- 18 ...... Invest igat ive Spot l ightSupport for the homeless and unemployed?

- 19 ...... Scam Spot l ightApple Models

- 20 ...... Community Spot l ightEmpire Fighting Chance

- 21 ...... Book Reviews

- 22 ...... Puzzles

- 23 ..... Compet it ions

This first edition of Boundless features a range of articles, investigations, features, interviews and

artistic pieces. Future editions will be available from approved homeless and unemployed distributors

for £1.60 (enabling them to make 80p of each sale), as well as selected venues.

If you have already brought this magazine from one of our distributors, thank you! If you would like to

become a distributor yourself, email boundless@arkbound.com

Our Vision

We want to help create a more open and accountable society, where people are not afraid to speak out; where injustice, corruption and oppression is thrown to light. At the same time, we aim to give a voice to marginalised groups and communities, allowing alternative perspectives and fresh insights to be shared.

Much of our art and creative writ ing is contributed by people suffering some kind of exclusion. We actively give organisations that seek to improve their local communities a platform. Boundless has a focus on the future, believing in the empowerment of young people, whilst advocating sustainable living.

As we are BRAND NEW, your feedback and contributions as a reader would be welcomed. There are opportunities to get involved with our work, to become part of a growing social enterprise init iative, and unlike other outlets that proclaim similar aims we promise to always respond and to actively make a difference.

This magazine has been distributed by foot and bike to venues across Bristol, as well as to approved vendors. We welcome new distributors so please get in touch if you are interested.

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2

Advertise with Arkbound

Arkound is a pioonering social enterprise founded in early 2015. Based in Bristol, we provide a range of services to aspiring authors, journalists and artists. Arkbound aims to promote community development, social inclusion and artistic talent.

Boundless First Edition, published by

Arkbound.

While every effort is made to ensure the contents of this magazine are accurate and presented in accordance with the

Editors' Code of Conduct, the publisher bears no liability for any views or opinions expressed herein.

For all enquiries contact: Editorial, Boundless, Arkbound, Backfields House, Upper York Street, Bristol BS2 8WF.

Edited by Steve Jackley and Kate Bishop.

email: editorial@arkbound.com

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Arkbound Opportunities

RIDDLER: What has a face but no eyes, hands but no arms? (A nsw er on page 22)

3

Half of Cl imate Safety Level has Gone

Alex Kirby reports from the Climate News Network

Global temperatures have risen by 1°C in the past 150 years, with some scient ists saying that a doubl ing of that level could unleash catastrophic sea level rise this very century.

The world is now halfway towards the internationally-agreed safety limit of 2°C rise in global average temperatures, researchers say. It appears that the human race has taken roughly 250 years to stoke global warming by 1°C. On present trends, we are set to add the next 1°C far more quickly ? across much of the world, many climate scientists believe, by the middle of this century.

The research, commissioned by New Scientist, looks likely to f inally lay to rest the argument that global warming is stuttering to a virtual halt - the so-called ?hiatus theory?. Kevin Trenberth, of the US National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, told New Scientist: ?There?s a good chance the hiatus is over.?

The hottest year since records began was ? by a

very small margin ? 2014. This year?s El Niño could mean a temperature rise of 0.1°C, an increase which usually takes about a decade to develop. Between 1984 and 1998 the Earth warmed at 0.26°C a decade, but the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says the rate then fell back to about 0.04°C until 2012. This occurred for a number of reasons, including a less active Sun, more cooling aerosols from volcanoes and Asian factories, and more heat being absorbed by the oceans. But, according to The New Scientist f indings, warming may soon revert to the higher rate.

Professor James Hansen, former Director of NASA?s Goddard Institute, notes that the ice melting around Greenland and Antarctica will cause sea level rises much faster than mainstream predictions suggest - by several metres this century. If true, it will add to a process which they say has already begun, accelerating melting of the undersides of Antarctic glaciers and ice shelves. Another consequence, they think, will be the shutting down of ocean currents which carry heat from the tropics to the polar regions, leaving the tropics to warm fast and the high latitudes to cool. This temperature dif ference, they say, will spawn huge super-storms unlike any seen so far.

All this, Professor Hansen and his colleagues say, could happen with just a 2°C temperature rise. Alongside the environmental consequences will come social and polit ical problems, some of which we are already seeing. ?It is not dif f icult to imagine,? Professor Hansen remarks, ?that conflicts arising from forced migrations and economic collapse might make the planet ungovernable, threatening the fabric of civil isation.?

Arkbound is a member of the Earth Journalist Network and

Climate News Network, actively reporting on pressing

environmental issues, both locally and globally.

Something Smel ls

Leaked documents have revealed that the Government has been trying to weaken air pollution legislation, despite f indings that such pollution is endangering human health and costing lives. It comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling for the Government to address urban air pollution, which is fall ing behind EU air quality laws. The revelations, recently published by The Guardian newspaper, follow secretive lobbying.

4

Love BristolLove Bristol has been established for ten years and is a city wide init iative, with a particular focus on Stokes Croft and St Pauls area. They run the charity shop ?Treasure?, along with the nearby furniture shop, ?Happytat?, popup bakery, 1-2-3 Exhibit ion Space, and a number of ?community houses?. Love Bristol is also a Christian organisation, hosting prayer and worship events throughout the city. Charlie Gregson tells Boundless about some of the work that Love Bristol is doing.

How have you helped the local community?

We have a strong ethos on supporting the talent of local people, with a numberof events that help promote the work of poets, artists and writers. Art is a universal language, just l ike music, so we work with people from diverse backgrounds, delivering something of wider benefit to the community. We are also looking to create partnerships. Our exhibit ion space is one of many in the city but it doesn?t want to be in competit ion, rather to

collaborate. We have worked with people from single mums to drug addicts, whether it be helping to provide accommodation or with f inding work. One third of our prof its goes to start-up businesses and individual artists, whilst money generated by our shops goes towards people in need.

Religion is often seen as something that divides people? but it can also have the power to unite. What ways do you think people can become more united through faith?

Christianity has a focus on love ? the most fundamental part is loving people and being kind, supporting each other even if it isn?t out of personal gain. The projects we do engage dif ferent faiths as they consider issues of common concern and value: looking at climate change, the environment, social inclusion. Often people are threatened by dif ference but we celebrate it, looking at values rather than ideology and f inding common ground. We are inspired by Jesus ? who hung out with ordinary people, as well as social outcasts, seeing their potential and inner light. Love Bristol is about loving the area, especially the

arts and people in it.

To f ind out more about Love Bristol, visit

www.lovebirstol .org

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Love Bristol artwork in Stokes Croft

1-2-3 Exhibit ion Space

Charlie Gregson

Proof reading for as l i t t le as £3 per 1000 words

For all your proofreading and copy-editing needs, we offer the best possible prices from qualif ied and experienced freelancers. We are also partnered with leading UK proofreading f irm, 'Write it Clearly'', to offer you an exclusive discount for complete manuscripts.Whether you are writ ing a novel or a manual, a dissertation or a business proposal, our proofreading services will give you a polished f inal piece that is without errors.

www.arkbound.com

5

A selection of visual art and creative writ ing. We priorit ise work from people and groups who may otherwise be unheard.

'Tuscan Pattern'by David Slater

Disused drug paraphernal ia lef t outside a

church in St Pauls. Bristol is one of the UK?s

fastest growing urban economies, but the city

is st i l l f ragmented by inequal it ies. St Pauls

remains one of the most deprived areas,

despite lying adjacent to some of the

weal thiest .

by Christian Harris

The Bristol Improv Theatre Network (?BitNet?) is growing web of artists we support, work alongside, play and create with. It is a loose and all-inclusive collection of companies, groups, performers, audiences and whoever wants to get involved in a wider, collaborative Bristol improvised theatre scene.

Visit www.improvtheatre.net or find us at 50 St Paul?s Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1LP.

6

Future Vision

Boundless was the world in its birth, without frontier or border. The seas caressed the shores, churning the rocks to sand, shaping continents as they traversed the millennia. Species arose and adapted, giving way to new ones with nature's cyclical upheavals.

Then came humankind. They thought, invented, built, expanded. Slowly their empires and civil izations conquered one another, giving way to centuries of uniformity and conversion. A multitude of nations united under a band of wealth ? one global f inancial system, ruled over by an international elite. But this system, which brought with it peace and stability, also harboured the seeds of destruction. Rising inequality, overpopulation and a creeping environmental catastrophe rendered the system unstable. Cracks spread throughout the social foundation as entire ecosystems and species were wiped out. No longer boundless, the world became a jig-saw puzzle of fragmenting states.

Fire erupted in the North, followed by the South, and its blinding light enveloped the cit ies without compassion or hesitation. As the ashes drif ted away and sunlight f iltered through the unforgiving clouds, some life remained. It crept out from the shadows, twisted and changed, yet f ighting on to survive the aftermath of humanity's reign. No longer would roads hum to carbon-ingesting vehicles, or con-trails streak the sky. No longer would music f loat down a tree-lined avenue as students sauntered to a library. So much knowledge, creation and variety had been lost. But so too was the senseless train of destruction, greed and short-sightedness that had brought about humanity's demise. Once more, the world was boundless.

*They watched the city in the throes of its destruction, eyes glimmering in the night l ike moons af ire. As the embers of a lost age settled into nothingness, they moved towards the centre. Bodies sleek and black, they blended between the buildings as droplets fall ing into an ever-moving stream. Every empty window was a dark aperture of unknown, harbouring fears that had not

yet emerged. No-one scanned the streets below, knowing that death prowled the shadows, waiting to pounce on its observers.

Gone were the brave and just who would once protect. Lost were the guardians of the city's ancient foundations. Even their tombs had been forgotten. Now all was a maze of hopeless descent, spirall ing ever round into a human hell that foretold that things could only get worse. Those few inhabitants that remained were trapped in a living death, hidden away like tarnished goods, waiting and counting off the days. The scattered families that stil l somehow survived knew of the things that prowled and searched, always close-by. Night called them down from their unknown lairs, driving them like a dark-cloaked hunt master into the city's deepest labyrinths. Ever-shif t ing, ever-searching, the moon-eyed creatures would not relent. If shadows could be wolves, they would be the fangs that sank through f lesh.

Yet, until now, not one had entered the city's mausoleum of knowledge and dreams. They simply gazed at the portico entrance, as if in a trance, then quickly turned away. Long ago, before the moss and ivy covered the cold granite columns, etched letters stood out proudly. For those few who could stil l read, these letters were nothing but a simple declaration of fact; an announcement that needed no elaboration. Yes, The Central Library was stil l standing. Save for rats and pigeons, nothing entered or left its depths.

Now they gathered outside its entrance, staring with glowing eyes at the portico. Some swayed, others were completely motionless. A kind of hum arose from their centre, l ike the echoes of a pneumatic dril l f rom deep underground. Inside the library, just silence...

The hum grew stronger. Thunder unrolled in the distance, although it might have been something else altogether. Then, abruptly, the moon-eyed creatures sprinted forward. In one black uncoiling rope they entered the library, f looding through the doorway, mouths agape as if in anticipation of a giant feast. All that remained of their presence were goblets of congealing yellow saliva, splattered in random patterns across the pavement. Wherever it landed, the weeds would shrivel and die. And stil l, in the library, there was silence.

Hours passed. Pitch midnight rotated towards the f irst hints of dawn. Then, as the f irst sun-rays glanced across the library's upper terrace, as a few birds f inished their half-hearted chorus, something stirred. Clapping, rhythmic echoes slid out from the library's entrance, growing stronger with each beat.

Clip, clap, clop. Footsteps, fall ing in the dark.

Footsteps where no one had been for over a hundred years.

A grey shape paused on the threshold. It remained there, unmoving, as sunlight crept down the building. Then, with one great step, it entered the day.

7

'The Inner Wor k ings of a Tr oubled Mind'

by Sandra Totterdell

In this picture the ar tists depicts 'cogs gr inding, wheels turning, troublesome thoughts going

around and around.'

Sandra is an exper imental ar tist dealing w ith themes of loss, gr ief, chaos and the search for

healing of the spir i t.

How Prison Works

- A prisoner contemplates the reality of prison life -

Embroidery by Ant Stevens

Three metres. That was the distance between me and the rest of the world - three torturous, tantalising metres. I could smell the dancing trees beyond, with emerald fronds waving to a gentle breeze. An azure sky carried with it tastes I once knew so well: a summer surf unrolling, barbeques smouldering in the afternoon, outstretched fields of wheat.

Up above, the sun threw down robes of warmth, drawing down the shadow of the wall before me. Two thrushes murmured greetings upon its ugly, razor-wired rim, like Angels come to pay a visit to the borders of hell.

With loathing I rejoined the stream of prisoners marching to work. Blindly I became part of the flow of men, trailing smoke and curses in their wake. Guards stared down on us like the flotsam we were, their eyes cold and undeviating. No rift could be wider than the one that defined our differences.

Ahead, the iron-gated doors of the workshop lay open. One by one, we went in. The gaffer stood with a clip-board at the entrance, checking off names. His face bore the marks of thirty stress-fraught years. A fringe of silvering hair was made even whiter by a thick, black moustache. I stepped through the thresh-hold.

Rows of fluorescent lights could not chase away the darkness within. Sixteen inmates sat and stood in groups, talking loudly. My place was adjacent to a man who had imported cocaine from Europe. His large stomach bulged against the edge of the worktable. I could almost see my reflection in the bald sheen of his tilted head. Like a lightning bolt against an ebony horizon, a zigzagging scar ran across his forehead. He scanned the room with a robotic stare. ?Another day in paradise,? he sighed.

I had been working only a few weeks, despite being in the prison itself for five months. The work was repetitious and boring, but it was better than being locked in a cell. The wages paid just enough for a few days tobacco and phone credit.

The gaffer slammed and locked the gate, then walked over to our table. ?Alright!? he announced, waiting for the other inmates to be quiet. ?I?ll be off next week, which means no-ones leaving here till it?s spotless.?

'No one covering you, 'guv?' another prisoner interrupted.

?Unlikely, Richards.?

There never seemed to be enough staff, even on the wings.

?When I left yesterday,? the gaffer continued, ?there was glass on the floor. That?s right, glass. Right by my office. Anyone want to own it??

No-one responded.

?I thought not. Just be mindful? ?

Before walking off to the office, his frowning eyes seemed to fix on me, sending a subtle message of warning. Turning to my bald companion, I mentioned this. He simply shrugged and went back to reading a newspaper. That was prison for you:

Picture by Cecilia

'The Freedom to Walk Around'by Cecilia Montague

8

'no-body cared. You were on your own.

To the system we were but numbers; statistics of cruelty, disillusion and greed. Behind the walls and fences, our crimes had earned us confinement and segregation. Every day differed only in its degree of monotony. Seasons passed like broken dreams, half-glimpsed in a perpetual twilight.

The man beside me had dealt drugs most of his life. He was a millionaire and proud of it. Dave, the inmate working behind me, had been in and out of prison seven times. Most of the others had similar records. Crime was a way of life; as normal to them as sugar in tea. They knew no other alternative. Time inside was time wasted; very few used it to contemplate their actions, to change and to better themselves. At best, it teaches the importance of not getting caught. At worst, it fuels bitterness and anger at society ? so that on release the prisoner seeks vengeance or recompense for their time lost. That was the tragedy of the prison system.

Three hours passed before it was time to hand in the tools, tidy up and leave the workshop. The gaffer stood by the door, rubbing us down to check for anything we might have stolen. It was a purposeless exercise ? serving only as a reminder of our collective label, another tick in the box for ?security?. Walking back to the wing, I forced myself not to look at the cloudless sky and trees that hovered above the fences. In my realm all was grey and black - from the concrete on the ground to the steel teeth that gripped every window. Green was outlawed.

Back into the dungeon that they called a ?Houseblock?, or ?C wing?, the unique noise found only in jails rebounded off the walls. Prisoners from the three landing tiers streamed down to get their dinner: old faces, young faces, black and white ? it could have been anywhere in the world. But these were broken men, in one way or another. Their eyes said it all.

No fairground could boast of a ghost train as fearful as the one that led up to the 3?s. Each iron step was a railing towards oblivion. Hours, days, weeks, months, years ? spent in a space no bigger than a cage. One by one, the cell doors slammed shut. Each was an echo of a life destroyed; a repetition of heartache and pain.

Would there always be someone behind these doors?

9

Warped by Retribut ion?

A prisoner at HMP Bristol was acquitted after being accused of starting a f ire in his cell bin. It transpires, however, that the homeless man - 33-year-old Christopher Harris ? was originally only given an 8 week sentence for fail ing to pay for a drink. Sent to HMP Bristol, which has received signif icant concerns for overcrowding, violence and lack of purposeful activity, Mr Harris went on to start f ires in his cell bin. For this he received a mammoth 10-year sentence on 14th August 2015, but only four days later started another f ire.

Strikingly, Mr Harris had only been able to start the f ires because he was in possession of a HMP lighter. But rather than question what could be done to prevent these incidents, let alone ask whether Mr Harris was receiving any appropriate support, the response of Bristol?s leading newspaper (?the Post?) was to spurn astonishment at his acquittal.

Boundless contacted the Prison Service about this matter, who commented: "All prisoners are provided with the necessary support to help them with dif f icult aspects of their behaviour. This includes working with health care professionals to develop and put in place a suitable treatment plan. The safety of prisoners and staff is a priority and offenders will only be provided with a lighter if they successfully pass a risk assessment.?

It has to be wondered how this man?s punishment can be proportionate to his actions, whilst with each year he is kept locked up another £30k+ is added to the public purse. Bizarrely, similar observations posted on The Post's "comments" page were removed within a few hours.

Meanwhile, The Chief Inspectorate of Prison has reported unprecedented levels of overcrowding, unrest, violence, self-harm and suicide across the whole prison estate. These are supposedly the places where criminals go to become law abiding cit izens... although it seems to some extent the reverse may be true.

Where Science Meets Religion

The Church of St Mary Redclif fe has the tallest spire in Bristol. Walking past, hearing the proud bells peal out their daily tunes, one may be forgiven for thinking that it is a place of religion alone. But, hidden away in one of the naves, is a peculiar object known as ?the chaotic pendulum?.

A cross has a horizontal hollow beam, which tilts left or right as a trickle of water is poured down onto the centre. As it t ips, one way or the other, the water funnels down and is recycled back to the top. What makes this object remarkable is no-one can predict which way the beam will t ip in a minute?s time. In science, such unpredictability is known as chaos, also connected with the ?butterf ly effect?. Chaotic systems are characterised by an imbedded complexity, with the smallest changes having massive effects. Thus, the theory goes, a butterly f lapping its wings in Tokyo could potentially impact a weather system in New York. This is because there are so many dif ferent factors effecting weather systems, with tiny changes in one part having much larger effects in another. The chaotic pendulum is similar: a few mill imetres dif ference in where the water lands, or perhaps a shif t in the air, will immeasurably effect which way the pendulum tilts later on. ?

Some people look to science for certainties on which to base their lives?, the plaque by the pendulum proclaims, ?but increasingly we realise our knowledge can never provide certainty, even for this simple machine.? Indeed, there continue to be fundamental l imits and gaps in science, with each theory remaining an interpretation of the world that is shaped, at least in part, by society. As we gaze upon the heavens, or even upon the humble chaotic pendulum, we should not forget that the universe holds wonders and surprises that continue to supersede our imaginations.

'Soul mates many lifetimes together on one world'

by Natalie Priest

'Ladder' by Andrew Omading

Courtesy of OutsideIn

Portrait by Christian Harris

10

POET'S

CORNER

Torment

By Stephen M cN ought

Watching gluttony as you starve;

Seeing the fire consume what you newly carved;

Hearing laughter as you weep in deepest despair;

Casting a friendship beyond all hope of repair;

Watching lovers as you walk alone,

N o stolen soul mate can safely atone;

Hearing bird song behind the jail cell walls;

Unable to get up even after countless falls.

Touching a sunray in a collapsed cave;

Growing old, watching life seasonally remade;

Getting a water-drop in the desert, but not a glass;

Being too late for the first class;

Forgetting the lines of a favourite song;

Winning a lottery, then finding you're wrong.

Torments come and go

But you should think hard and know:

For every hell a glimmer of paradise gains

In the mind, over clouds, in the darkness

A shining light remains.

MOONLIGHT

Moonlight plays on water

As a fish leaps free,

Ten thousand thoughts do scatter

Like droplets from the sky.

Night Sky Rhapsody

Suns upon suns shining for millennia;

si lver-picked f ields of speckled sand dust

strewn throughout moonlit ploughs

bedecked in arches, jewel- like crests uprising

like morning mists and grass dew

dripping r ipples on st i ll lakes;

every stone an echo, every image bright

like mountain slopes at eve.

Ah, this vast vault of Being

spread in insurmountable glory

for minds to see and know

to probe its secrets, unravelling the story

of all Beginnings and Ends ?

f rom Alpha to Omega,

f rom Bang to Crunch,

Night Sky Rhapsody

Suns upon suns shining for millennia;

silver-picked fields of speckled sand dust

strewn throughout moonlit ploughs

bedecked in arches, jewel-like crests upr ising

like morning mists and grass dew

dr ipping r ipples on still lakes;

every stone an echo, every image br ight

like mountain slopes at eve.

Ah, this vast vault of Being

spread in insurmountable glory

for minds to see and know

to probe its secrets, unravelling the story

of all Beginnings and Ends ?

from Alpha to Omega,

from Bang to Crunch,

trailing the handcraft of God.

'Lives of great men all remind us

  We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

  Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,

  Sailing o?er life?s solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

  Seeing, shall take heart again.'

- Extract from 'A Psalm of Life'

by Henry Longfellow (1807-1882)

Founded in 2006 by Pallant House Gallery, Outside In aims to provide opportunities for artists who see themselves as facing a barrier to the art world for reasons including health, disability, social circumstance or isolation. The goal of the project is to create a fairer art world which rejects traditional values and institutional judgements about whose work can and should be displayed.

www.outsidein.org.uk

11

- Ben Taylor

KRIS K.

The Fields One old man dwells on nature?s loss

Every person is a fountain of stories. Some are long, some short; they can be f loodlit in multiple colours, forced to rise and

fall in complex patterns, made hot or cold. All take their existence from one central reservoir: the mind. And all are destined to fall away. Looking around, one can see this embodies the nature of everything - to rise, to fall, and then to cycle back to a dif ferent beginning.

We live in a world where machines warp the fabric of the human spirit; where roads and railways criss-cross mountains and rivers and f ields; where concrete and metal ceaselessly unfolds beneath oily clouds. No longer can one traverse a country without encountering a border. No longer can one f ind new lands devoid of man?s scars. So easy it is to forget how things used to be, oh so easy.

I once had a room with a window of f ields. Endlessly they rolled, l ike an emerald fabric creased into so many curls. Just visible on the horizon was a line of trees: the western borders of a forest whose name may stil l yet l inger. Sheep grazed those f ields, horses too ? sometimes f lashing their manes in the sunshine or bending their noble heads in the rain. I was young then. Every day contained within it the kernel of adventure, harbouring the potential for l imitless discovery. Each puddle was a sliver window to leap into, whilst the tallest of trees just begged to be climbed.

Is it not strange that one can remember the past with such a backwash of l ight, yet deem the present and future as shrouded with grey? The peril of nostalgia is you can forget the litt le things, the details which cumulatively build up to something altogether dif ferent. Rules, walls, arguments, tears ? they all slide away into Time?s quagmire, replaced by a mirage of bliss. Stil l, it?s often a case not of what the world makes of us but of how we take the world. Put a dreamer behind bars and he will look past his cage. Strand a f ighter on an island and he will f ind a way off .

The green f ields outside my window remained for many years. They darkened and lightened with the seasons, their hedgerows yielding blackberries in autumn and wild f lowers in spring. Trees older than cathedrals leaned over wooden gates, their choirs of birds greeting each morning.

I swear those f ields could change into new lands. One morning coated with mist; the next glowing in ten thousand facets of colour. It is the green I remember the most ? how it shif ted with the wind, always changing, never quite matching how it used to look the day before. Patches and patterns could form overnight, circles of mushrooms grew up almost magically, burrows and molehills made spots near a hedgerow, pathways appeared and disappeared. And sometimes I could almost see a force at work, a greater pattern emerging, as you can occasionally make out faces in the clouds.

When the men came and hammered boards into the ground I didn?t realise what would happen next. Even when the horses and sheep disappeared, the f ields looked indestructible.

Two bulldozers soon changed that. Gone went the grass, a few hedgerows, and my favourite climbing tree. Then came the trucks, bringing cement and bricks. I could no longer see the forest on the horizon. Instead of birdsong, there was the dull hum of machinery. Green was replaced by dead grey as the skeletons of new homes arose. They looked like ugly squat monsters whose bellies had once been f il led with earth. At night their empty windows became eyes, black and soul-less, twisting the wind into whistling threats.

My family left before any people moved into those houses. We went to the city, where I soon forgot what green truly meant. Those f ields outside my window are no more. That forest may live on only in its name. How many others have sighed with resignation at seeing nature destroyed? How many have been fooled into walking the f ields of gold, when really they are just chasing an il lusion of grey?

Concrete, metal and mortar build the tombs in which we die. To live is to walk and run on grass, to catch a seed as it drif ts in the sunlight, to eat wild berries from a hedgerow. Green is more than a colour, more than a concept. It is the breathing beauty of l ife; the moving texture of f ields and trees, stil l l iving on in memory.

Editorial note: With the demands of an ever-growing population, the old man?s story is being repeated on a daily basis. Pressures for more housing too often result in disregard for green spaces. We must ensure that such developments are able to respect and preserve nature, whilst integrating sustainable methods and materials that do not harm the environment as a whole.

12

Dangerous Graffiti A New Concept Graffiti by Ghost Dance

Graffit i Art ist 'Ghost Dance' grew up w ith his three brothers on a tough working class estate in West Bristol. He has recently conceived an entirely new graff it i art concept: 'Dangerous Graff it i' . His artwork is a form of urban journalism that covers diverse issues from global warming to poverty, and was recently featured in the foyer of Bristol's Central Library ('Greater than the Mona Lisa' exhibit ion).

Ghost Dance sees his artwork as 'a thinking man and woman's Graff it i' , inspired by contemplation of life and society in a constantly changing world.

As the art ist says: 'We are not weak, but strong. We are not lost, but carry with us a light whose flame will ever navigate a way.'

13

LOCAL INTERVIEW

Wisdom f rom The Roof of the World:

An Interview with Kunchok Nyima

Recently I caught up with Kunchok Nyima, who teaches a form of meditation at Hamilton House. He left Tibet at the age of 18, after spending several years as a Buddhist monk.

Tibet was (and to some extent stil l is) one of the remotest regions in the world. It covers most of the Himalayas, often being referred to as ?The Roof of the World?. The country was practically untouched by foreign forces, save for a brief but bloody Brit ish excursion in 1904, and was defined by a dedicated adherence to Buddhist principles. Things changed in 1950, when the Chinese military entered the country and declared it part of China. Some called it a liberation, others an occupation, but since that t ime a number of human rights violations have been reported by international bodies. Nevertheless, with China?s burgeoning economy, many Western nations (including the UK) have shamefully turned a blind eye to such abuses, when formerly they were grounds for ideological crit icism.

Whilst things appear to have improved, the plight of Tibetan people is far from over. Kunchok noted how, since 2008, there have been over 145 self-emulations to protest against polit ical oppression. He chose to leave the country after facing restrictions on what could be studied, with the overwhelming emphasis being on Chinese culture. Fleeing to India, Kunchok was f inally able to meet the Dalai Llama ? the spiritual f igurehead of Buddhism, who people in Tibet are now forbidden from associating with. After continuing with his studies, Kunchok departed India for England. His intention was to help spread awareness of the Tibetan cause, using English (?the international language?) as a mechanism of change. However, things were not easy. Although he had family connections in the UK, Kunchok struggled with the new language and culture. ?People seemed unfriendly and it was hard to communicate?, he told me, noting that he eventually got a job in a restaurant. Then, after completing an intensive English and Social Care course, he took up a new position in a nursing home.

Buddhism is based upon a number of core beliefs,

including the need to be compassionate and to respect all l ife. When working in the care home, Kunchok was shocked by the lack of affection shown towards the old, which contrasted greatly to Tibet. ?There,? Kunchok said, ?older people are cared for, respected and supported.? He mentioned one particular old man who had no relatives. ?No one had time to help him; it was all about following procedures like a machine.? When the old man refused to

eat and died, there was very litt le reaction from staff ? which, again, Kunchok found hard to understand. He even recounts how two social workers came into the old man?s room and started callously joking.

?I realised that society was missing something,? Kunchok said. ?It may be rich compared to India and Tibet, but at the same time it risks losing

connection with people. We need to f ind a balance between material things and spiritual qualit ies. If we continue going this way then we will end up no dif ferent from animals ? our natural qualit ies of compassion kicked out by material desires. We will l ive in a shadow, not in light.?

Was this the reason he taught meditation? ?I see it as a way to promote compassion and affection, encouraging the ethos of helping each other. And, when people come, I don?t ask for money. They pay what they can, if they want.?

Such an altruistic model seemed f itt ing for Bristol, where in other cit ies it might not be feasible. ?I?ve noticed people are more open and friendly here,? Kunchok told me, ?although lots are confused and searching for an identity.? Today, he runs the Zari Tibet organisation, which organises events led by monks and sells traditional Tibetan products that are hand-made in Tibet. He also continues working in care homes. After the interview, as I went to leave, Kunchok gave me a white scarf ? the Tibetan symbol of friendship ? and a warm hug.

Interview by Steve Jackley

Kunchok does Tibetan Sound Healing sessions at Hamilton House, Stokes Croft, every Monday afternoon. He can be contacted via www.zaritibet.org

14

VIEWS FROM AFAR

INDIA

N VIS

TAS Every issue Boundless takes you on a journey to somewhere around the world.

These pictures were taken by Sahil M Beg, a 20 year-old journalism student from New Delhi. Sahil is part of the growing international network of journalists

and editors that Arkbound is developing.

RIDDLER: What can run but never w alk , has a mouth but never talk s, has a bed but never sleeps, has a head but never w eeps? (A nsw er on page 22)

15

Bristol?s Leaning Tower

Not many people realise that Bristol has its very own ?leaning tower?. Whilst not as spectacular as the one in Pisa (Italy), it offers a fascinating insight into local history. The tower is part of Temple Church, which lies just off Victoria Street in Temple Park.

Something's a little skew-wiff about this picture!

Founded in 1147 by Robert of Gloucester, the church was originally a circular building for the Knights Templar. It was later replaced during the 14th and 15th centuries by a rectangular plan, when work on the tower commenced. However, it soon became apparent that the tower was leaning to the west, most l ikely due to the compression of clay in the foundations.

During WWII Temple Church was heavily damaged by bombing, leaving it an empty shell. Today the tower is leaning to the west by approximately 1.68m ? although there is no immediate danger of it fall ing over!

Temple gardens provide one of Bristol?s many green spots and are not often visited, despite being a f ive minute walk from the city centre.

The Soapbox

'Let the people decide.' - Per icles of Athens

Every issue, Boundless invites one of the country?s political parties to make a contribution. In this issue, Helen Godwin Teige of the Labour Party writes about

Voter Apathy.

?Why do we have to vote? Why can?t they just make things better?? This was a question asked of me just one week before the 2015 General Election. My audience were a group of young adults at a Training Centre in Bristol, most of whom had more to do with the State than their more aff luent peers. Many lived in social housing, had family members reliant on benefits or tax credits, and will most l ikely end up in the same position themselves. Only by attending this under-funded Training Centre were they prevented from becoming ?NEET? (Not in Employment,

Education or Training).

To be completely frank, it was a painful hour. In fact, we didn?t even make an hour! In my preparation I had factored in time for questions, debate and discussion. None was forthcoming. Despite my best efforts, these young people did not want to talk polit ics. I left feeling depressed, disappointed, and more than a litt le embarrassed.

It?s a sad irony that those who need governments to support them are those that are least engaged. We in the Labour Party have the responsibil ity for rectifying this. Our party is built on the principle of f ighting for the common man, of protecting the weak and vulnerable, and a constant battle for equality of opportunity. Yet, before we even

16

consider party polit ics, we need to make voter registration our focus. Changes in how people vote, from household to individual registration, means that many young people - especially those not l iving in a family home - are slipping through the net. In April 2015, just three weeks before the general election, it was reported that the number registered to vote had fallen by 800,000.

We need to constantly strive to f ind new ideas for including people in the polit ical process. Lewisham Council, in South East London, have managed to unroll a hugely successful campaign through social media, schools and

colleges - even printing voter registration forms on council tax bil ls. After all, if you?re giving the council money every month, surely you want a say in who runs it?

Marvin Rees, Labour?s 2012 Mayoral candidate in Bristol, has committed to run a similar programme if he is elected in 2016. If it works as well as it did in Lewisham, we could see real changes in the polit ics of this city.

However, for many young people the disengagement runs deeper. Fragmented families means polit ics isn?t discussed anymore, whilst social media is such a vast world that we can?t reach everyone. Moreover, polit icians don?t look or sound like young people. After the 2015 election, 70% of MPs are male, with only 6.3% defining themselves as coming from a BME background. And the average age of an MP? 50!

But maybe, just maybe, Bristol can play its part is changing those statistics. The Labour Group on Bristol City Council is made up of 42% women councillors, 9.6% of the group are from BME groups, versus 16% of the population. Bristol is a young city, with more people under 16 than pensioners. Our opportunities are limitless - we just need to ensure our polit ics is too.

?It?s a sad irony that

those who need

governments to

support them are

those that are least

engaged.?

Editorial Note:

Labour?s election of a new leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has seen strident outcries from the rich

and powerful, who would be most negatively affected by his proposed policies. His rise from

outsider to leader is a reminder that 'lost causes' can still triumph.

Britain?s politics may well have just entered into a new era of debate between genuinely

opposing ideologies?

Boundless is politically neutral but believes that a vibrant democracy requires active political participation. We are open to contributions from all political parties, working on a ?Rainbow? rotation system (Red for Labour, Orange for Liberal Democrat, etc.). We ask Parties to write about pressing social or environmental problems and how they would address them, rather than attribute blame to one another.

If you would like to comment on this article, please write to editorial@arkbound.com. The theme for the next piece will be: ?Housing, People and the Environment?.

Several hundred people gathered to protest against further Government austerity measures announced by

the Chancel lor of the Exchequer. Watched over by pol ice, protesters held placards before doing a mass ?die in? to

highl ight how severe cuts to publ ic services can cost l ives.

Photo courtesy of The Peoples? Assembly.

17

'The Bear Pit ', Autumn 2015.A homeless man lends t ragedy to the artwork surrounding him.

An Illusion of Support Where is the support for homeless and

unemployed people?

There are a plethora of organisations that now profess to help people into work, but when it comes to solid employment the opportunities remain sorrowfully low. It goes without saying that those

from disadvantaged backgrounds face the largest obstacles, whether they be homeless people, ex-offenders, or the long-term unemployed.

Boundless magazine recently spoke to an unemployed person who had only just managed to gain temporary accommodation after six months of homelessness. Ben told us how his plight had not improved, despite engaging with numerous agencies and organisations. ?There were many times I felt l ike giving up, l ike just going back to the drugs and alcohol,? he said, ?but I didn?t want that l ifestyle again.?

Similar to many homeless people, Ben had previously resorted to substance misuse after spending a period in care. He is now 23 years old. ?It?s really hard to move forward when you?re homeless and unemployed,? Ben told us. ?There?s a few organisations out there who try to help, but all I got offered was unpaid training and volunteering positions. They promised paid work after that, but it was always hit and miss for each person.?

In 2014 Government f igures revealed that 2,744 people slept rough on any one night in the UK, although homeless charit ies say the real amount is l ikely to be much higher. This means that there has been over a 55% increase in homeless people since 2010, which is projected to rise even further. There

is a widespread social misconception that this group is homeless by choice, or through lack of effort, but that is rarely the case.

In terms of putting cold, hard cash into the pockets of people will ing and eager to work, it seems there is very litt le indeed. Arkbound recently surveyed 22 employment agencies in Bristol and London. Of those that responded, the average job vacancy received upwards of 45 applications. Moreover, the rise of unsecure positions is forcing those on low incomes into accepting contract and commission based work that t ilters on the edge of outright unemployment.

Prospects?. But for whom?

The creation of an elusive support network has been spurned by outsourcing government funds to the private sector. Theoretically such agencies and organisations are paid by results, but a sizable chunk of public money goes towards ?service fees? that simply cover operational costs. Limited oversight also makes it hard to measure the real impact of these

organisations for people seeking work.

Prospects Ltd, which has been contracted to provide the Work Programme in the South West, is one example. The purpose of the Work Programme is to

help those at risk of long-term unemployment back

into work. To what extent it achieves this is questionable. Freedom of Information data reveals that Prospects received £54,132,930 for providing the Work Programme (South West region alone). Yet, between 2014-15, a whopping 121 formal complaints were made against the company.

Strangely, Prospects refused to provide any information on how much public money it is given per service user - as did

INVESTIGATIVE SPOTLIGHT

True investigative journalism, brought to you by Boundless

'In ter m s of pu t t i n g

col d , har d cash i n to

the pock ets of peopl e

w i l l i n g an d eager to

w or k , i t seem s ther e

i s ver y l i t t l e i n deed .'

18

the Department for Work and Pensions (according to them, there is more public interest in keeping such 'commercially sensitive' data secret than disclosing it to the taxpayer).

In a further twist of apparent corruption, Prospects also refused to confirm or deny whether any MPs or their dependents held shares in its company or subsidiaries, and whether it donated any money to a polit ical party.

Given that the Government is now able to select which companies to award contracts to, with the potential for f inancial benefits accruing to those in power, the need for accountability could not be greater. Yet private bodies like Prospects are able to circumvent Freedom of Information by claiming that data is ?commercially sensitive? or overridden by the Data Protection Act. It is a worrying example of privatisation eroding the accountability of taxpayer-funded services.

Set to get worse

Whilst off icial unemployment rates remain at around 5% , this f igure does not take into account those who are in training and education. Nor does it incorporate those who are self-employed, on contracts, in apprenticeships, or working on a commission-only basis. Perhaps the real rate of unemployment can be evidenced from the rising number of people who are sleeping rough and turning to begging.

With further impending cuts to welfare and services, pressure will be placed on already overburdened charit ies. As the state safety net is weakened, it remains to be seen how far the private sector can f il l the gaps, let alone whether taxpayers really are getting ?the best value?.

In every edition Boundless will try to help you avoid getting caught out by a ?scam?, rogue trader, or otherwise losing your money

through corporate malfeasance.

In this issue we look at ?APPLE MODELS?.

The Company: Apple Models claims to be a legitimate modelling

agency. It is currently advertising online and via several recruitment

agencies.

The Scam: You are contacted by a convincing sales person after an

init ial enquiry. They invite you to a ?photo shoot? in central London which you are told will lead to commissioned

modelling work. However, there is a £50 booking fee which they assure you is fully refundable. However, in actuality

the photo-shoot is nothing more than a portfolio building exercise where the minimum cost of each photo is ? you?ve

guessed it - £50.

The History and Evidence: Many people have been caught out by Apple Models due to their convincing sales team and

strong online following. Some have been conned out of thousands of pounds, with Apple Models shamefully exploit ing

the dreams of younger people and their supportive parents. It turns out the company has used several other names at

dif ferent addresses after receiving pressure from Lambeth Trading Standards. They were also showcased on the BBC

programme Rip Off Britain when they were called ?Form Models?.

Getting Compensated: You should in the f irst instance make a written complaint to the company. Thereafter go to the

Trading Standards Board, which can be done via your local Citizens? Advice Bureau. It may be possible to take them to

court (money claims can be easily done online). However, it is important to be aware that, as a company, they can escape

having to pay damages through using the same name changing tactics as described above. Under corporate law

companies are separate legal entit ies and there are only very limited circumstances that directors and shareholders can

be held personally accountable. If things get too heavy, an errant company just dissipates and starts again. In the

meantime, ripped off customers can stil l make it harder for such companies to operate through complaints, publicity

and possible legal action.

Been scammed? Help prevent the same from happening to others! Write to kbishop@arkbound.com

19

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

BEATING THE ODDS

Thanks to the pioneering efforts of a local Bristol gym, new champions are being born in an otherwise disadvantaged community. Founded in 2006, Empire Fighting Chance is helping many young people at risk of exclusion and offending to transform their l ives. As of June 2015 it can also boast of a world champion in the form of batamweight boxer Lee Haskins, who defeated reigning champ Ryosuke Iwasa after a whirlwind 6 rounds.

But success has not come without a long, hard struggle. It began life over 40 years ago as Bristol Boxing Gym in St Pauls ? an area then associated with vandalism and roving street gangs. In those days it was managed by Chris Sanigar, whose passion for boxing has been f irmly installed in his son, Jamie. People came from afar to train, f ight and mingle. Gradually the gym became a vital feature of St Pauls, helping to give frustrated youngsters a place to belong.

In January 2015, after decades of operating from a church building, the gym was suddenly forced to move. It eventually relocated to the Old Mill Youth Centre in Easton, but soon found this new venue was in a state of total disrepair. It took the persistent efforts of Jamie and his colleagues to keep the doors open. The local community came together to offer its support, with several people contributing material and labour towards

the gym?s renovation.

Empire Fighting Chance can now again stand as a place for young people. Some are referred by charit ies, schools and even the police. With 6 staff members and several volunteer mentors, the gym is reaching out to tackle social exclusion, community divisions and crime. The self-discipline and respect conferred by boxing, which some mistakenly perceive as a sport of brute violence, provides a constructive outlet for otherwise negative emotions. Many young people from fractured backgrounds are discovering greater levels of confidence and self-esteem, whilst working towards their goals.

In days when gyms are dominated by large companies, becoming increasingly automated and impersonal, Empire Fighting Chance is a striking exception. By including all members of the community, supporting young people and actively pursuing opportunities within and outside of sport, it demonstrates the power of hard-fought community init iatives.

For further information on Empire Fighting chance, visit www.empirefightingchance.org

Youngsters from Empire Fighting Chance

Lee Haskins

RIDDLER: What can you hold in your right hand, but not in your lef t? (A nsw er on page 22)

20

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ARKBOUND BOOK REVIEWS

Find below the latest book reviews f rom Arkbound Publ ishing. In this edit ion of Boundless, as Arkbound Publ ishing has only recent ly launched, we wil l be looking at

just 4 books.

Want to get your book featured in Boundless? N o problem! Contact boundless@arkbound.com

Arkbound Publishing is also now sponsoring talented authors from disadvantaged groups and welcomes new enquiries. If you are interested in publishing through us, visit www.arkbound.com. Before posting any manuscript, please sent a covering letter, synopsis and SAE to: The Editor, Arkbound, Backfields House, Upper York Street, Bristol BS2 8WF.

Good Intent ions

By Stephen Jackley

£2.99 from Smashwords/Kindle

Also available in hardcopy from Arkbound for just £4.99

(Special Offer Excusive to readers of Boundless)

This debut novel promises a crime thril ler story like no other. It tracks the exploits

of John and Sarah, a modern ?Bonnie and Clyde? couple who are determined to use their il l-gotten gains for the greater good. As they plan a daring casino heist, shadowy f igures enter the scene ? culminating in a series of confrontations and near misses.

The book combines a roll icking heist thril ler with intriguing observations that have a bearing on modern society as a whole.

A Tale of Two Cit ies

By Charles Dickens

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A Tale of Two Cities (1859) traces the private lives of a group of people caught up in the cataclysm of the French Revolution and the Terror. Dickens based his historical detail on Carlyle?s great work ? The French

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?The best story I have written? was Dickens? own verdict on A Tale of Two Cities, and the reader is unlikely to disagree

with this judgment. It is one of the greatest tales of human

suffering, self-sacrif ice, and redemption.

Achieving Environmental Just ice

By Karen Bell

Available from Marston Book Services at £35 with code

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By a local writer. "The range of this book is both breathtaking and unique. Karen Bell analyses data from seven very

dif ferent countries, and points an unerring f inger at capitalism as the principal cause of environmental injustice. If ever there was a fundamental point of reference, this is it."

( Review by Andrew Dobson, Professor of Politics, Keele University)

Foraging

By Carmel Maher

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This litt le handbook gives you great t ips on edible (and non-edible) plants and even f lowers. Ever been wandering along a country path and spotted something that looks delicious? Or perhaps the

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21

RIDDLER

A NSWERS

Page 3 - A clock

Page 15 - A river

Page 22 - Your lef t elbow

Across

1. Evolve

5. Windstorm

6. One more

7. Proposition

Down

1. Diminish

2. Wordy

3. Tanned animal skin4. Computer instructions

SUDOKU

MINI CROSSWORD 1

GAMES SPACEGAMES SPACE

MINI CROSSWORD 2

Across

1. Sunshade

5. Prolong

6. First letter

7. Imp

Down

1. Pressing

2. Temporary relief

3. Breed of dog

4. Extracted from wool

3 QUOTES

In every edit ion we look at three quotes by a historic f igure. Today we introduce: Albert Einstein!

"Great spiri ts have always found violent opposit ion f rom

mediocrit ies. The lat ter cannot understand it when a man

does not thought lessly submit to hereditary prejudices but

honest ly and courageously uses his intel l igence."

"I know not with what weapons World War III wil l be

fought , but World War IV wil l be fought with st icks and

stones."

"To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand."

22

ARKBOUND

COM PETITIONS

THE ANNUAL ARKBOUND COMPETITION IS NOW OPEN!

Arkbound is welcoming submissions to its annual competit ion. There are three categories, detailed below.

BEST SHORT STORY

Theme: 'Overcoming' (this may be accomplishing something in the face of great odds, battl ing against social exclusion or discouragement, achieving a dream in spite of obstacles, etcetera).

Wordcount: Preferred entries are around 1500 words but those above will also be considered. Maximum of 5000.

BEST ARTICLE

Theme: Any. Special consideration will be given to articles that touch upon an issue of community concern and which have never been reported before. The winning entries will demonstrate exceptional talent in journalism, with the ability to invoke interest from a wide audience.

Wordcount: Maximum of 750.

BEST VISUAL ART

Theme: Any. Special consideration will be given to pieces that revolve around or invoke links to social inclusion, sustainability, the environment and democracy. Any medium will be considered as long as it can be featured in the magazine and website: paintings, pictures, collages, photography, etcetera.

Timescale: All submissions should be sent to competit ions@arkbound.com or by post to Competit ions, Arkbound, Backfields House, Upper York Street, Bristol BS2 8WF before 1st Novemeber 2015. The winners will be announced on 15th December 2015.

Prizes: 1st ? £75.00, with feature in magazine and website. 2nd ? £40.00 plus featuring. 5 runners up, all of whom will be given £5.00 and special recognition.

Entry requirements: There will be a £2.50 fee for each entry and you must be sole author of the work submitted. No entry form is required.

This year we br ing you a spectacular selection of fossils, minerals and shells from around the wor ld. Best Value, True Quality, Expansive Range - these

awesome items are brought to you from a stunning local collection.

For fur ther information contact: trading@arkbound.com

23

Please let us know what you think of Boundless. We value feedback and suggestions.

Name Comments

Once completed please return this magazine to Arkbound, Backfields House, Upper York Street, Bristol, BS2 8WF so your comments can be incorporated into the next edition and we can recycle the magazine.

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Copyright Arkbound 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher.

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