THERE’S a long and proud history of activists who have worked for a better world by rebelling against the status quo when change was needed. The suffragettes and civil rights protesters often spring to mind, but many others have also changed our world for the better over the centuries.

This history will be be brought right up to date at the Cardigan Guildhall Corn Exchange next week. The role of current-day activists will be illustrated in an exhibition of Faces of Rebellion from 17th to 22nd March.

It features the work of Mark Skipper, who uses the name Bitterjug for his art work. He says, “I’m a software engineer with a sketchbook. I’m also a climate activist, and reportage sketcher: I take my sketchbook to protests to capture scenes and atmosphere in ways that photography cannot.” 

Mark’s sketches of activists’ faces are surrounded by the person’s own words about how and why they became active, and the variety is striking. 

Mark continues, “Faces of Rebellion tells the stories of climate activists as humans in a way the media cannot. Its enduring themes are compassion and community.” 

Mark encourages other artists to get involved, and portraits by Solutionairy, from The Netherlands, will also be included. Solutionary gives her background: “I trained as a solution focussed psychologist. We focus on people’s strengths and their unique ways to deal with life’s challenges. With Faces of Rebellion I get to apply this to our greatest challenge. I’m inspired by the variety of stories of courage and kindness in the face of climate breakdown.”

Caroline Juler is a local artist and film-maker who lives in Brynberian. She has made many short videos of Cardigan based climate activists, and these will also be part of the exhibition. “I’ve been very aware of the escalating climate crisis for some time, and recently I’ve been taking a more active part in trying to do something about it. We all bring our own backgrounds and talents to climate work, and these all feed into effective climate campaigning when we work together. I wanted to make the videos to show how this works for some of the many local activists.”

The exhibition has been arranged by West Wales Climate Coalition members, and Philippa Gibson has helped with some of the organisation. She says, “It’s easy to feel disheartened by slow progress, and Donald Trump’s denial of the climate cristis doesn’t help, but we need to be aware that we are part of an “ecosystem of change” that includes COP international climate conferences, national legislation, community action, industry innovation, and individual commitment, including protests and non-violent direct action to to challenge damaging practices.” She added, “All these parts work together to make meaningful impacts achievable. We ALL have a role to play. This exhibition aims to be inspiring and positive.”

If you’d like more information about the exhibition or about local climate campaigning, contact cardiganxr@protonmail.com

Renovating your home is always an exciting prospect. If you’re thinking about renovating but you’re not sure where to start or you simply want some inspiration, here are some of the top home renovation trends for 2025. 

Maximise bedroom space 

Maximising on space is one of the best things you can do for any room in your home, but bedrooms in particular will reap the most benefit, considering that’s where most of your personal belongings will reside. 

Look at adding in custom-built wardrobes or drawers that can strategically offer plenty of storage whilst remaining aesthetically pleasing and ensuring there is plenty of space left in the room. Good storage solutions also help prevent rooms from becoming cluttered, since everything can be hidden away out of sight. 

Modernise kitchen worktops and cupboards  

Renovating your entire kitchen can be costly. However, by simply giving your kitchen cupboards or worktops a revamp, you can create a whole new aesthetic for your kitchen. This is particularly true if your cupboards are outdated or worn. A simple lick of paint or change in design with new handles can make a world of difference. This is a great option too because respraying your kitchen cupboards will only cost a few hundred pounds, while buying new ones will cost thousands. 

Add underfloor heating 

Underfloor heating is a great addition to any home, and can be used almost anywhere, from kitchens to bathrooms. Not only does it provide a more luxurious experience, and make hopping out of the shower or heading down to the kitchen first thing in the morning much more pleasant, but it can also be more economical than central heating. 

Let more light in your living room 

Having a bright and airy living room will make the space feel bigger and more welcoming. Incorporating large windows or French doors can make a significant difference to a living room, and give it a more modern aesthetic. You could also look at swapping out outdated lighting for strategically placed wall, floor, and ceiling lights if you’re looking to save money while still creating a new aesthetic. 

Spruce up your garden 

It’s not just the inside that you should focus on. People’s first impressions of your house will be the outside of it, so you want to get it looking in good shape. Give your garden some attention and ensure it’s looking neat and tidy. Think about scattering some additional plants that will help make your garden feel more like a sanctuary. 

Get renovating! 

Now you have a few ideas for upgrading your home, such as letting in more light, maximising space, and modernising outdated elements, it’s time to get started with the renovations. There’s no time like the present!

In 2024, only 48% of young audiences tuned into live television in an average week, down from 76% in 2018. 

Streaming services have dramatically disrupted the television industry. More and more people, particularly amongst the younger generation, are opting to consume content through streaming services, such as Netflix and NOW, over traditional television. 

So, why exactly is that and just how much has it affected British broadcasting in the last decade? 

Why has broadcasting taken a backseat? 

There are numerous reasons why live broadcasting has lessened in popularity, but arguably the biggest reasons are the prevalence and accessibility of streaming services. 

As of September 2024, 20.1 million households (68%) have access to a streaming subscription service. The demand is high, and with it, plenty of new subscription services have formed over the last decade. It’s not just Netflix anymore, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, and more have all joined the big leagues and given people endless alternatives and better access to TV shows and films than ever before. 

It’s not just films and TV shows either. Streaming services for games and gambling have become increasingly popular too, especially amongst the younger generation, and may be taking people’s attention away from live television. 

Whether it be watching their favourite gamer on Twitch or watching live roulette games to achieve an immersive online gambling experience, streaming services have revolutionised the gaming industry. 

How have streaming services affected live broadcasting? 

Reduced viewership

As the popularity of streaming services has grown, the viewership of live television has dipped. For example, in December 2021, the BBC had 55,481 monthly viewers. However, by January 2025, this had reduced to 51,715 monthly viewers. 

Audience demographics 

In 2024, people aged 16-24 watched just 20 minutes of live television a day, whereas people aged between 45 and 54 had a viewing rate of 84% for traditional television. The generational split is likely down to younger users being more technologically literate than older generations. 

Why have streaming services become favoured over live TV?

Streaming services offer greater flexibility and a wider range of easily accessible content compared to traditional television. Alongside this, streaming services provide a more personalised experience, with big names such as Netflix and Disney Plus offering constant recommendations on what to watch next based on a user’s favourite content and watch history. 

What is the future of broadcasting? 

Despite losing viewership from younger audiences and the immense popularity of streaming services, live television is still well liked amongst people in the UK. It’s unlikely that traditional television will ever cease to exist, but it’s anticipated that channels may be reduced due to lack of viewership.