The disheartening announcement has been made that a French judge has given the go ahead to bulldoze a large part of the migrant camp in Calais known as the Jungle – which is currently home to thousands of refugees. Charities such as L’Auberge Des Migrants tried without success to delay the plans of demolition to give them enough time to at least try and find alternative housing for the residents, arguing that many of the people there are children without parents or guardians.

So it’s time to renew that gym membership, you hand over the cash and with a feeling of self-gratification, determination and the necessary short shorts you make your way to the bench press. Then you experience it. That gut-wrenching feeling of envy and hatred at the reflection of yourself in the mirror compared to the bodybuilding meathead to your right, flexing his biceps, triceps and quadrupi-twat-ceps.

Driving through the striking scenary of Koh Lanta, Thailand, it is difficult to not fall in love with its beauty: the sun setting over the stunning beaches, the crystal-clear waters reminiscent of a warm bath and the seemingly endless lush-green jungles covering most of this large island. On the surface it’s the ultimate Paradise, offering travellers plenty to do in terms of tourism, with one of its most popular attractions being the ‘ultimate elephant experience,’ which for Western visitors seems alluringly cheap.

I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to travel over to this beautiful place and work with the Eco-Tourism Society, on a promising and rewarding eco-tourism project. The place I stayed was Serrekunda, the Western side of the Gambia and just a 10 minute walk from the beach. Wracked with nerves and excitement at the thought of going to a place solo and sharing my knowledge was daunting.

We visited a club trying to resuscitate alternative nightlife. It's a sad time to be alive. Everyone's skint, everything's boring, and as we edge closer to election day, UKIP's ever rising popularity proves that people are more enticed than ever by fascism disguised as common sense. In an increasingly sterile city, the closure of another venue that openly celebrates difference and diversity is a hammer blow.

As disillusionment with the scene grows, we consider the toll drugs and sex are taking on gay nightlife. Working in a bar means working long hours. Working those hours means working at weekends. Working at weekends means missing the club nights I used to attend every weekend, every week. Now I work.

Traveling to other countries and experiencing alternative cultures and lifestyles has become part of the norm for twenty-somethings and gap-year students. Everyone wants to pack up and travel to his or her own paradise for an unforgettable adventure. It’s become so popular in western society that people are now getting bored of it.

After their fascist-tinged policies last week, THOMAS HIBBETS writes on the Tories’ ridiculous claim to be representing the ‘centre ground’ of British politics and disparages the right-wing media which backs them up. THEY SAY a lot can change in a week of politics. I’ve never really been sure who “they” are, but Amber Rudd’s terrifying World War II-inspired speech proved that they’re right.

I’VE been a Jeremy Corbyn supporter since the beacon of light rose from the backbenches to Labour leader with a landslide victory. His presence emerged while our political climate seemingly lacked any progressive energy. As a member of a group within society that has fought relentlessly over the years to have the rights we have now, seeing the emergence of a man urging a new kind of politics brought a wondrous sigh of relief.

As another legendary London music and community venue is shut for no good social reason time has come to fight for its survival and a reversal of this trend, says TOMMY HIBBITTS. LONDON has always been seen as a city of culture, innovation and endless diversity, sparking trends worldwide and being known as having arguably the best nightlife in the world.

London-based drag queen and living art extraordinaire Charity Kase only took until the 1st day January to prove to the world that this year is theirs for the taking. While we were all nursing the mother of all hangovers, Charity decided to show the world her imagination through art. She has decided to pull a look every day, in what she calls her 100 Days of Drag – a series of sensual stimulation, innovative art and queer self-expression.

In this pod cast we’re joined by animal rights enthusiasts Netty South-Moffat and life wanderer and ethical consumer Bon-Bon. Topics of conversation: Animal rights, Veganism, Environmental and Ethical issues.