The Pi Perspective: Week 8
Image via Wikimedia Commons
At Pi Online, we are a massive group of editors who work together to curate content for the website. But who are we really? What do we like, dislike, observe, think?
Each week, we’re pulling back the curtain with a new editorial spotlighting what’s been on our minds.
Editors-in-Chief
Today is International Women’s Day, and it has me thinking about femininity, feminism, and everything in between.
Once upon a time, women retreated to ‘powder rooms’ – sacred spaces of quiet maintenance – to reapply lipstick, tame flyaways, and effortlessly look perfect. Beauty, historically, has been something women were expected to maintain, just not in front of everyone.
Lately, though, we seem to have escaped the secrecy of the powder room entirely. Walk around campus and you’ll spot people wearing neon star-shaped pimple patches that serve as tiny badges of honour.
It’s a small cultural shift, but an interesting one. Skincare used to be about hiding the problem; now it’s about treating it openly. In a world that still expects women to look polished without ever appearing to try, there is something quietly satisfying about the pimple patch’s refusal to pretend otherwise.
So happy Women’s Day to all my neon-accessorised readers. Never stop living loudly.
News
It has been a week since war broke out between the USA, Israel, and Iran; yet, the rapidity with which the war is developing leaves it difficult to stay well-informed on the latest developments. Moreover, the political interconnectedness of the UK with the USA has created concern over the extent to which we will become involved in the war. Sir Keir Starmer has said he “stands by his decision not to join the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran”.
However, this does not mean the UK remains neutral. In the week that has passed, the UK has allowed the USA to use British bases in the Middle East, requested details of British nationals currently residing in the affected region, and have planned to send a defensive warship to Cyprus. Many British nationals remain stranded in the Middle East, following the cancellation of thousands of flights, and over 140,000 have registered for UK government help.
Features
While I was trying to clear my camera roll, I chanced upon pictures of my family trip to Shangri-La, the capital of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and it got me thinking about my time there. I vividly remember my tour guide explaining the lengths that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) goes to block other countries from engaging with the Dalai Lama, a Tibetan religious figure of peace. However, if you consider how incompatible the interests of the CCP and the Central Tibetan Administration are, it’s not all that shocking.
The 14th Dalai Lama is considered the highest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and, some may argue, the Tibetan people. This title is one that should not be taken lightly. There are more than 6 million Tibetans worldwide; imagine how much bigger that number would be if we counted believers in Tibetan Buddhism from other ethnicities and countries too.
To China, a country that intends to unite (or own) 9.6 million square kilometres of land, the Dalai Lama’s legitimacy and widespread influence pose a challenge. With an alternative source of power that is even recognised by the UN, full loyalty to the ruling party is unguaranteed. Furthermore, in Tibetan Buddhism, it has been strongly believed for centuries that after the incumbent Dalai Lama’s passing, his reincarnation will be identified and succeed his position. This means that after the 14th Dalai Lama, there will be a 15th to carry on his legacy and campaign for genuine Tibetan autonomy.
Even though the Dalai Lama resides in India now, his presence can still be felt in the Tibet Autonomous Region. For a religion with such devoted followers, it may take the economic giant a while to get its way.
Opinion
It’s amazing what a difference the weather can make. As a chronic summer-sneezer, this heavy dose of false spring is idyllic, and it also looks great on London. As soon as the temperature scrapes 17, everyone flocks to the parks or hops on a bike to pump life into London; it’s honestly very humbling how the entire city can be shaped by chance serotonin and to quote my friend, ‘life is worth living again’.
It reminds me that we are all fundamentally a lot simpler than we like to believe. And although my essays have had to be put on life support, I think the optimism I get from being outside is a perfect remedy to any curricular terror. Waking up with the sun’s positivity, and the exercise and fresh air that inevitably follow, are actually a remedy for a lot of life’s challenges. So while my problems are cast to the shadows, I will continue to dress, cosplaying as a tourist, and bask in the sunlight.
Lifestyle and Culture
My journal sits tucked away in my bag every day. Naturally, it was there when I walked past Bloomsbury’s Bertha Dochouse and scanned the list of documentaries showing throughout March; a monthly ritual I await with anticipation, always making sure to pencil a few into my busy schedule. Fitted comfortably between a dentist appointment and a late-afternoon seminar is Palestine Comedy Club, following six comics who cross borders to navigate the complexities of Palestinian identity. Squeezed slightly less comfortably between a closing shift and “meet mum - bring chocolates” is Do You Love Me, a patchwork of home video and film fragments retelling the collective memories of citizens of Lebanon, a country with no national archive of its own.
Stories happen to me daily as a student in London; I collect them and breathe them into the pages of my journal with a scratchy mechanical pencil. But I hadn’t realised I’d been inadvertently collecting other stories until I noticed that its grey suede cover had grown slightly less pristine. My journal’s outer skin has steadily become marked just as much as the pages inside.
Placed on sticky pub surfaces, it collects beer-sloshed stories of inebriated Friday evenings which will no doubt be recounted with embarrassed giggles on Monday mornings. When I lay it on rickety cafe tables, it collects the croissant flakes of coffee-stained conversations between friends who finally caught up after months of attempted schedule-aligning.
I don’t mind when it gets grease-stained (a tentative first date over a plate of truffle gnocchi), grass-stained (late-winter park picnics), or ash-stained (to be expected - cigarette butts litter practically every London surface).
Stories are ever-present, moulding realities. However, in recent weeks, stories of real identity and real suffering have become increasingly obscured by geopolitical narrative. Whilst a journal and a documentary are microscopic in the face of such unrest, to bear witness to unfolding stories can cultivate clearer perspectives. For this purpose, I’d highly recommend checking out what the Bertha DocHouse has to offer this month.
Sports
The international break is well underway, with the SheBelieves Cup, Asia Cup, and World Cup UEFA qualifying matches being played over the last week. However, there is one notable competition missing from this list: the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Set to be held in Morocco, the contest was supposed to run from March 17th to April 3rd, and doubled as Africa’s World Cup qualifying tournament.
WAFCON is no stranger to disrupted proceedings, with the 2024 edition only being played in the summer of 2025, and the 2020 edition being cancelled entirely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic (whilst the 2021 men’s AFCON tournament went ahead as planned). These events have drawn much criticism from players and fans alike, who believe the Confederation of African Football (CAF) does not prioritise and support the women’s game. The 2024 WAFCON contest saw record attendance figures, strong television viewership, and greater sponsorship investment, all of which substantiate the evidence of growing support for women’s football in Africa. The CAF confirmed the tournament was postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances”, an excuse which leaves those involved in the tournament with more questions than answers.
Postponing the tournament is disappointing for fans who have purchased tickets for games and players who have dedicated time to mentally and physically preparing for this tournament, with the hope of leaving with World Cup qualification. The women’s game has only gone from strength to strength in the last five years, however, disappointing decisions made by football federations are still negatively impacting women’s footballing competitions, leaving lasting effects on the footballing world.