This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/live/2016/dec/02/why-is-there-a-sleeplessness-epidemic-join-our-live-look-at-the-week
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Do we need vegan-friendly fivers? Join our live look at the week | Do we need vegan-friendly fivers? Join our live look at the week |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.27pm GMT | |
| 15:27 | |
| Another view on those bank notes from the comments | |
| I don't believe so as it's just a slaughter by product, and if it's more efficient to use by products than we should go with that. Having said that we should do everything we can to reduce beef and dairy consumption, as it's not the by products but the big market for those main products that are environmentally unfriendly and unsustainable. So lets focus on the real culprits, not the by products. | |
| 2.55pm GMT | |
| 14:55 | |
| Are we failing women by not treating PMS seriously? | |
| Zofia Niemtus | |
| The nation’s wombs were a battleground this week, as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommended that sufferers of severe pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) should be offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). | |
| The severe form of PMS affects about 2% of women, and is defined by psychological symptoms that interfere with work, school performance or relationships. According to the experts, CBT is a more effective treatment than antidepressants. Which sounds fair enough. But, of course, no. | |
| Along with some fierce debate about the physical v psychological root of the issue, some interesting cultural questions were raised. Are we failing women by not treating PMS seriously? Are we trying to pathologise womanhood? Can our cash-strapped NHS afford to offer this kind of treatment? Can it afford not to? Do talking therapies work anyway? Can we have one damn story about periods that doesn’t prompt a load of sexist, sniggering comments? Let’s hear your thoughts... | |
| 2.21pm GMT | 2.21pm GMT |
| 14:21 | 14:21 |
| Are British vegetarians "stupid" to worry about the new fiver? | Are British vegetarians "stupid" to worry about the new fiver? |
| Campaigners are putting pressure on the Bank Of England, urging it make the new £5 note vegan friendly. The response from the Australian pioneer of the polymer bank note? Well, he says they are being “stupid”. | Campaigners are putting pressure on the Bank Of England, urging it make the new £5 note vegan friendly. The response from the Australian pioneer of the polymer bank note? Well, he says they are being “stupid”. |
| Many readers don’t agree, and feel the bank should be more sympathetic – and perhaps more transparent. | Many readers don’t agree, and feel the bank should be more sympathetic – and perhaps more transparent. |
| I think it’s a reasonable demand that people who abhor and won’t partake in the death or suffering of animals to ask for alternative to a product they have no choice but to use. It’s funny how easily people can trivialise others’ beliefs when they’re not their own. | I think it’s a reasonable demand that people who abhor and won’t partake in the death or suffering of animals to ask for alternative to a product they have no choice but to use. It’s funny how easily people can trivialise others’ beliefs when they’re not their own. |
| But some of you are pointing out just how little of the material is in the notes. | But some of you are pointing out just how little of the material is in the notes. |
| Vice did the maths on this: | Vice did the maths on this: |
| And if you get about 40kg of tallow-worthy fat from the average cow, how many cows would you need to make every single £5 note in circulation? | And if you get about 40kg of tallow-worthy fat from the average cow, how many cows would you need to make every single £5 note in circulation? |
| JUST OVER HALF OF ONE COW | JUST OVER HALF OF ONE COW |
| Maybe these nutjobs should campaign to only use tallow from a cow that died from natural causes if it still bugs them? | Maybe these nutjobs should campaign to only use tallow from a cow that died from natural causes if it still bugs them? |
| What do you think? Share your thoughts below. | What do you think? Share your thoughts below. |
| 1.59pm GMT | 1.59pm GMT |
| 13:59 | 13:59 |
| Conversation of the week: is eating al desko ever appropriate? | Conversation of the week: is eating al desko ever appropriate? |
| Guardian readers | Guardian readers |
| We talked lunch this week, something that – perhaps because this feature runs around midday on a Friday – often comes up below the line. More specifically, it was the office lunches and your feelings towards your colleagues’ habits that turned cogitation to conversation. | We talked lunch this week, something that – perhaps because this feature runs around midday on a Friday – often comes up below the line. More specifically, it was the office lunches and your feelings towards your colleagues’ habits that turned cogitation to conversation. |
| One comment that resonated with many was this, which talks of presenteeism culture invading the lunch hour. | One comment that resonated with many was this, which talks of presenteeism culture invading the lunch hour. |
| Even though my co-worker re-heats fish at her desk (gag), she actually makes fun of me/picks on me for "taking a lunch break" (as she calls it) because I leave the office for lunch. | Even though my co-worker re-heats fish at her desk (gag), she actually makes fun of me/picks on me for "taking a lunch break" (as she calls it) because I leave the office for lunch. |
| That is what I find most depressing about the al desko (as the author calls it) trend. It makes leaving the office something to be ashamed of, whether it is your right to do so or not: many appear to think you are not working hard enough because you've left your desk for lunch | That is what I find most depressing about the al desko (as the author calls it) trend. It makes leaving the office something to be ashamed of, whether it is your right to do so or not: many appear to think you are not working hard enough because you've left your desk for lunch |
| Part of the problem where I live (middle of the US) is that office buildings are not built with cafeterias or a break room anymore. Thus if you are bringing your lunch in, eating at your desk is the only solution. | Part of the problem where I live (middle of the US) is that office buildings are not built with cafeterias or a break room anymore. Thus if you are bringing your lunch in, eating at your desk is the only solution. |
| Working during your lunch hour? This commenter agreed that this was the problem to tackle rather than stray odours. | Working during your lunch hour? This commenter agreed that this was the problem to tackle rather than stray odours. |
| Never mind the smell - it's working during your lunch that should be socially unacceptable. Previous generations worked hard to get us mandatory lunch breaks, but we willingly erode these rights with the creeping expectations of 'professionalism' - a mythology of sacrifice and work obsession that negates our own interests. | Never mind the smell - it's working during your lunch that should be socially unacceptable. Previous generations worked hard to get us mandatory lunch breaks, but we willingly erode these rights with the creeping expectations of 'professionalism' - a mythology of sacrifice and work obsession that negates our own interests. |
| And also away from the whiffs of reheated dinners, the sound ... | And also away from the whiffs of reheated dinners, the sound ... |
| Less bothered by smells (unless they are incredibly vile) and more bothered by people who; eat with their mouth open / have weird clicky jaws / make weird munching sounds / take 2 hours to consume lunch. | Less bothered by smells (unless they are incredibly vile) and more bothered by people who; eat with their mouth open / have weird clicky jaws / make weird munching sounds / take 2 hours to consume lunch. |
| I quite like having a nose and seeing what everyone's eating. | I quite like having a nose and seeing what everyone's eating. |
| What do you think? Do you agree that we shouldn’t be eating at our desks? What foods go too far if you are chowing down above the keyboard? Share your thoughts in the comments. | What do you think? Do you agree that we shouldn’t be eating at our desks? What foods go too far if you are chowing down above the keyboard? Share your thoughts in the comments. |
| 1.43pm GMT | 1.43pm GMT |
| 13:43 | 13:43 |
| Our video of the week: Sleaford Brexit byelection | Our video of the week: Sleaford Brexit byelection |
| John Harris | John Harris |
| Today’s political news might be all about the Liberal Democrats’ win in Richmond Park, but next week a byelection happens in very different political territory. The Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency is in the Brexit heartland of Lincolnshire, and 62% of people in the relevant local authority area voted to leave the EU (in Richmond, 70% supported remain). As part of the Anywhere But Westminster series, I went there not to cover the electoral race – this is a very safe Tory seat – but to find out how the aftershocks of the EU referendum were playing out far from the capital. | Today’s political news might be all about the Liberal Democrats’ win in Richmond Park, but next week a byelection happens in very different political territory. The Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency is in the Brexit heartland of Lincolnshire, and 62% of people in the relevant local authority area voted to leave the EU (in Richmond, 70% supported remain). As part of the Anywhere But Westminster series, I went there not to cover the electoral race – this is a very safe Tory seat – but to find out how the aftershocks of the EU referendum were playing out far from the capital. |
| With my journo partner John Domokos, I found a deep generational divide, lots of Brexit voters who wanted the UK to get out of Europe as a matter of urgency, and also something much more complicated and challenging: a deep, emotional link between support for Brexit and strong feelings about the decline of community and solidarity, and simple loneliness. For anyone who thinks the leave vote was essentially reducible to nastiness and xenophobia, this film may serve as some kind of corrective; more generally, we think it’s not a bad picture of a very troubled England, and leave and remain voters united by one key thing – a pronounced fear of the future (oh. and some of what it explores probably also applies to Trump voters). | With my journo partner John Domokos, I found a deep generational divide, lots of Brexit voters who wanted the UK to get out of Europe as a matter of urgency, and also something much more complicated and challenging: a deep, emotional link between support for Brexit and strong feelings about the decline of community and solidarity, and simple loneliness. For anyone who thinks the leave vote was essentially reducible to nastiness and xenophobia, this film may serve as some kind of corrective; more generally, we think it’s not a bad picture of a very troubled England, and leave and remain voters united by one key thing – a pronounced fear of the future (oh. and some of what it explores probably also applies to Trump voters). |
| 1.30pm GMT | 1.30pm GMT |
| 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Some are looking not only to Richmond, but to Sleaford, Lincolnshire, where there will be a byelection next week. | Some are looking not only to Richmond, but to Sleaford, Lincolnshire, where there will be a byelection next week. |
| The result, along with the previous one at Witney, means that there's rich-pickings for any openly anti-brexit party. Sleaford could stop the bandwagon next week though. | The result, along with the previous one at Witney, means that there's rich-pickings for any openly anti-brexit party. Sleaford could stop the bandwagon next week though. |
| 37% of voters put the Conservatives into majority Government in 2015.48% of voters supported Remain in 2016. | 37% of voters put the Conservatives into majority Government in 2015.48% of voters supported Remain in 2016. |
| Harness the Remain voters, whilst Leavers are split between Lab/Con and who knows what could happen? | Harness the Remain voters, whilst Leavers are split between Lab/Con and who knows what could happen? |
| 1.10pm GMT | 1.10pm GMT |
| 13:10 | 13:10 |
| Here’s one of your views on that Richmond Park byelection: | Here’s one of your views on that Richmond Park byelection: |
| I think what it means is that the country is more polarised than ever. Richmond is the kind of place where most people voted Remain. Rather than simply accept being told to "shut up" every five minutes, these people are now digging their heels in. The country is going to be divided for a very long time over this and the name-calling, wilful disregard of facts and tabloid hysteria have not helped one little bit. Neither, for that matter, has a government which has decided that "the will of the people" excludes millions who wanted exactly the opposite and that the referendum is a mandate not only to leave the EU, but to leave the single market, insult our neighbours, threaten people living legally in this country and sabotage the future prosperity of the nation. Paradoxically, both the Libdems and UKIP will be boosted by all this. | I think what it means is that the country is more polarised than ever. Richmond is the kind of place where most people voted Remain. Rather than simply accept being told to "shut up" every five minutes, these people are now digging their heels in. The country is going to be divided for a very long time over this and the name-calling, wilful disregard of facts and tabloid hysteria have not helped one little bit. Neither, for that matter, has a government which has decided that "the will of the people" excludes millions who wanted exactly the opposite and that the referendum is a mandate not only to leave the EU, but to leave the single market, insult our neighbours, threaten people living legally in this country and sabotage the future prosperity of the nation. Paradoxically, both the Libdems and UKIP will be boosted by all this. |
| You can get involved in the discussion below. | You can get involved in the discussion below. |
| 1.04pm GMT | 1.04pm GMT |
| 13:04 | 13:04 |
| Our colleague James Walsh has been speaking to readers in the Richmond Park constituency, resulting in this piece which is worth a read: | Our colleague James Walsh has been speaking to readers in the Richmond Park constituency, resulting in this piece which is worth a read: |
| 12.52pm GMT | 12.52pm GMT |
| 12:52 | 12:52 |
| The Liberal Democrats – the only progressive party able to take advantage of Brexit schism? | The Liberal Democrats – the only progressive party able to take advantage of Brexit schism? |
| Toby Moses | Toby Moses |
| What does the Lib Dem victory in Richmond mean? Could a pro-EU message take a swathe of seats from the Tories? This graph by pollster James Kanagasooriam suggests that around 20-25 seats have enough people who voted Remain to overturn the Tory majority from 2015, so would be vulnerable to a similar swing – even without any drop in Tory popularity more generally. | What does the Lib Dem victory in Richmond mean? Could a pro-EU message take a swathe of seats from the Tories? This graph by pollster James Kanagasooriam suggests that around 20-25 seats have enough people who voted Remain to overturn the Tory majority from 2015, so would be vulnerable to a similar swing – even without any drop in Tory popularity more generally. |
| Richmond one of a small group of Tory seats vulnerable to Remain tactical voting. Graphic below indicates up to c.20-25 could be vulnerable pic.twitter.com/VeSWeylAaI | Richmond one of a small group of Tory seats vulnerable to Remain tactical voting. Graphic below indicates up to c.20-25 could be vulnerable pic.twitter.com/VeSWeylAaI |
| The question then becomes, can Labour take advantage? The Lib Dems are well placed – there are very few loyalists not in favour of staying the EU. Labour has a whole other problem with a swathe of northern Labour seats with large leave majorities. If Corbyn pivoted to an anti-Brexit, block Article 50 position he might win over a few Tory seats, but he’d surely leave the north exposed to Ukip’s message that Labour is out of touch. That it wants to defy the will of the people and simple doesn’t understand what its base wants. | The question then becomes, can Labour take advantage? The Lib Dems are well placed – there are very few loyalists not in favour of staying the EU. Labour has a whole other problem with a swathe of northern Labour seats with large leave majorities. If Corbyn pivoted to an anti-Brexit, block Article 50 position he might win over a few Tory seats, but he’d surely leave the north exposed to Ukip’s message that Labour is out of touch. That it wants to defy the will of the people and simple doesn’t understand what its base wants. |
| It’s a pickle for the Labour leadership to be sure – and one that is unlikely to be easily solved, which means the Liberal Democrats will be the only progressive party able to take advantage of the Brexit schism in the country. If they take enough seats from the Tories, and Labour can hold on to what they’ve got at the next general election a progressive coalition government could be a possibility – which I would suggest makes the chances of an early election slim. The risk is simply too great for a prime minister with a small majority and a reputation for playing it safe. | It’s a pickle for the Labour leadership to be sure – and one that is unlikely to be easily solved, which means the Liberal Democrats will be the only progressive party able to take advantage of the Brexit schism in the country. If they take enough seats from the Tories, and Labour can hold on to what they’ve got at the next general election a progressive coalition government could be a possibility – which I would suggest makes the chances of an early election slim. The risk is simply too great for a prime minister with a small majority and a reputation for playing it safe. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.06pm GMT | at 2.06pm GMT |
| 12.41pm GMT | 12.41pm GMT |
| 12:41 | 12:41 |
| You’ve been sharing more vews in response to the question of sleep in the comments. | You’ve been sharing more vews in response to the question of sleep in the comments. |
| I definitely keep myself awake far too long in the evenings, mainly because I feel robbed of time after a day at work. When I come home I'm desperate just to spend time enjoying not being at work, relaxing, feeling equilibrium return. I arrive home exhausted and annoyed. I get a second wave of energy at about 9pm and that's bed by 11 gone out of the window. | I definitely keep myself awake far too long in the evenings, mainly because I feel robbed of time after a day at work. When I come home I'm desperate just to spend time enjoying not being at work, relaxing, feeling equilibrium return. I arrive home exhausted and annoyed. I get a second wave of energy at about 9pm and that's bed by 11 gone out of the window. |
| 12.24pm GMT | 12.24pm GMT |
| 12:24 | 12:24 |
| Are we telling our bodies to do something totally unnatural? | Are we telling our bodies to do something totally unnatural? |
| For millennia, people went to sleep, then woke up for a few hours, then went back to sleep again. First sleep, second sleep. This is how we sleep. It's the natural way to do it. The idea of sleeping all night so we can go to work all day is entirely artificial, has only been around since the industrial revolution and not surprisingly, many people can't do it. What's surprising is that we can expect them to, or even ask them to do something so unnatural. | For millennia, people went to sleep, then woke up for a few hours, then went back to sleep again. First sleep, second sleep. This is how we sleep. It's the natural way to do it. The idea of sleeping all night so we can go to work all day is entirely artificial, has only been around since the industrial revolution and not surprisingly, many people can't do it. What's surprising is that we can expect them to, or even ask them to do something so unnatural. |
| 12.10pm GMT | 12.10pm GMT |
| 12:10 | 12:10 |
| Our sleeplessness epidemic: why we are not getting enough shut-eye | Our sleeplessness epidemic: why we are not getting enough shut-eye |
| Paula Cocozza | Paula Cocozza |
| This week a report claimed that poor sleep costs the UK £40bn a year. People sleep badly, go into work, and with foggy heads do their best. But, whatever your job, such days are less productive than they should be. | This week a report claimed that poor sleep costs the UK £40bn a year. People sleep badly, go into work, and with foggy heads do their best. But, whatever your job, such days are less productive than they should be. |
| If only we could all sleep seven to nine hours a night, the UK would be wealthier. (The figures also showed a sharp impact of sleeplessness on productivity in the US, Japan, Canada and Germany.) Some companies provide napping areas. Others try to make the workplace feel homely. | If only we could all sleep seven to nine hours a night, the UK would be wealthier. (The figures also showed a sharp impact of sleeplessness on productivity in the US, Japan, Canada and Germany.) Some companies provide napping areas. Others try to make the workplace feel homely. |
| But isn’t the real problem the endlessness of the working day, now revolving tirelessly around a world clock, the greed with which work wants to swallow the rest of our lives, so we stare at our smartphones when we should be sipping camomile and reading Marilynne Robinson? | But isn’t the real problem the endlessness of the working day, now revolving tirelessly around a world clock, the greed with which work wants to swallow the rest of our lives, so we stare at our smartphones when we should be sipping camomile and reading Marilynne Robinson? |
| Do you, like this reader, remember better times? | Do you, like this reader, remember better times? |
| In one of my first jobs about thirty years ago, one of the manager's I worked for used to have a short nap in his office after lunch. But those were definitely different, less pressured times. | In one of my first jobs about thirty years ago, one of the manager's I worked for used to have a short nap in his office after lunch. But those were definitely different, less pressured times. |
| Share your thoughts below. | Share your thoughts below. |
| 11.47am GMT | 11.47am GMT |
| 11:47 | 11:47 |
| Welcome to our weekly social | Welcome to our weekly social |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| We look forward to getting started. This is a space for our readers to discuss the week’s news and comment articles, with input from writers above the line. It’s been an eventful week, and we will talk about everything from the sleeplessness epidemic to the Richmond byelection. Join us now – and if you have any questions or comments about this feature get in touch (sarah.marsh@theguardian.com) | We look forward to getting started. This is a space for our readers to discuss the week’s news and comment articles, with input from writers above the line. It’s been an eventful week, and we will talk about everything from the sleeplessness epidemic to the Richmond byelection. Join us now – and if you have any questions or comments about this feature get in touch (sarah.marsh@theguardian.com) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.40pm GMT | at 12.40pm GMT |