Hannah Keal

 

"Hannah's Top 10"

1) How do you relax?

Reading. I could not live without books... favourites include ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’ by Oscar Wilde which is beautifully baffling, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, which makes me laugh and cry and ‘The Black Album’ by Hanif Kureishi, which is just mind- blowing. I also like sleeping, (when I get time) and listening to music, from Pulp and The Smiths to my latest obsession Reverend and the Makers.
 

2) What’s the one thing you would most like to change about yourself?

I’d like to be fitter, but I’m working on that one!
 

3) How would you want to be remembered?

As someone who made people think!
 

4) What do you feel guilty about?

Shouting at people. And on a wider level, I feel guilty on behalf of all Tories for being Tories, and I feel guilty on behalf of our nation for buying the Daily Mail. The only good use I can think of for it is to recycle it before anyone reads the right- wing tirades it’s filled with.
 

5) What are you most proud of?

I have a sneaking suspicion I’ve yet to achieve the thing in life I will be most proud of, but so far I would count being able to speak my mind in most situations as something of which to be proud of, as well as getting myself involved in so many valuable projects- I’m incredibly busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! And OF COURSE my mum and dad, the most committed councillors in Ryedale, who aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in.
 

6) What word or phrase do you overuse?

Lots! I tend to wear out phrases every month, I just get obsessed with them and then finally get bored. I also have eternal words which I try and slip into the conversation for no reason, like tautological, or Schnurrbart, which is German for moustache, but it just sounds really nice.
 

 

7) Where do you go for some retail therapy?

Malton! It’s amazing what absolute treasures you can find in shops like Plum- I’m glad we’re beginning to look forward without turning into an identikit town. I also haunt the charity shops for one off bargains. I also love York and London, especially Covent Garden, but I’m a bit skint at the moment by virtue of saving for uni. Thank you Mr ‘I won’t introduce top- up- fee’s- oops- would- you- look- at- that- I- just- did’ Blair.
 

8) What makes you angry?

A lot of things, I can rant for England. Political apathy- it really really annoys me when people think their vote is worthless. We campaigned for years to get universal suffrage in the U.K, and people around the world are still fighting for democracy today, and yet we take this essential freedom for granted. Short- sightedness and NIMBY-ism, the BNP’s existence, I could go on... and on... and on.
 

9) Who do you admire?

There are lots of people who I look up to... Pink, the singer, for her refusal to follow the crowd and her feisty firebrand feminism, Barack Obama, because he’s not afraid to call for much needed change in American politics, and Carla Del Ponte, who’s just stepped down from being chief war crimes prosecutor for the UN.
 

10) Where is your spiritual retreat?

My room, when it’s tidy (not very often), with a Radio 4 comedy on and a book in my hand. Or at a friends house just laughing and talking about random things.

 

(Article by Hanna "Plastic's NOT Fantastic!" HERE)

 

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Hey jute! Hannah makes it better!

Savvy sixteen-year-old Hannah Keal of Norton has bagged a seat at the constituency team table of Thirsk and Malton Liberal Democrats!

She has been elected as the Youth and Student representative of the party in the area and about to put a personal manifesto into practice!

Hannah, of St Nicholas Street, will be helping the group in the drive to find new members and grow the number of people willing to give hands-on-help to let people know what the party is doing.

The teenage tour de force is already campaigning to build support from people of all ages for a new environment friendly community. Her shopping list is:

• Ban the bag! Britain uses more than one billion plastic bags a month. Plastic bags are easy to replace – she aims to make it easier to go for eco friendly jute and paper bags in Ryedale.

• Encourage young people to have an active role in the community whether its sport, music, drama or volunteering through projects such as the Safer Ryedale Young Community Volunteers.

• Give young people their say in projects that involve them, like the proposed sports centre for Malton, Norton and the surrounding area.

• Scrap tuition top up and tuition fees. Encourage more young people to go to University without burdening them with huge debts.

• Make Malton and Norton fair trade towns. Fair trade guarantees fair prices for farmers. Start fair trade close to home by shopping local for Christmas.

Hannah says: “I’m appealing to traders to take up the cause of going plastic bag free – I’m sure it will be popular with customers who would welcome the chance to help our environment.”

“Some local stores already offer environmentally friendly jute bags and together we can spread good practice across Ryedale,” says Hannah.

“Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire has banned the plastic bag. Now, all 33 London councils are considering doing the same.  We can lead the way in North Yorkshire by following suit.”
 
“On the Sports Centre bid, a high proportion of those benefiting will be students and young people. I’m calling for more consultation among the youth of Ryedale for this and projects like it - that’s why I’m really keen to support Ryedale District Council Chairman Natalie Warriner’s idea of setting up a youth council – young people need a say in the community, let’s make sure they have it.”