Today is International Men’s Day (IMD), a fact likely to be met with a combination of puzzlement and resentment – a mix of ‘why” and ‘how dare they?’
What’s the point of it?
It has long been established that, in the name of equal rights and justice, women should have their day. Given the male-dominanted world we live in, there’s a strong argument to say that if men have problems, they have only themselves to blame. Continue reading
In the wake of the horrific acts of terrorism in Paris, the hierarchy of Bologna University today instructed teachers to devote at least an hour’s time in the classroom to discuss the implications of and possible responses to this violence. The thinking behind this is well-intentioned but the practicalities are more than a little problematic.
Of course, in the long-term, we need to do more than change our profile picture on Facebook and light candles for the victims.
But what exactly are the parameters to such proposed discussions? What should be the responses to hate speak (e.g. All Muslims are scum) or apocalyptic solutions (e.g. Nuke Syria).
Such extreme reactions are understandable but should not be endorsed or legitimized. The role of informed, calm-headed facilitator in any such debate is therefore crucial, but who moderates the moderators?
Teachers may be trained to impart facts about their specialist subjects but this does not automatically mean they have pearls of wisdom to offer to students on such political hot potatoes.
They may be older but this not necessarily make them wiser.
Talking is better than rushing to revenge but when wounds are still raw initiating an open-ended discussion could open up a can of worms that is hard to seal.
“The consumption of animals is immoral, unethical, and environmentally destructive. Most of all, it is unnecessary”.
This is one of the core beliefs of the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust founded by Philip Wollen. He is a vegan and he explained why in an interview with VeganEasy.org.
Wollen’s impassioned speech as part of a 2012 debate in Melbourne, Australia in favor of the motion: Animals Should Be Off The Menu is so brilliant that I am sharing and recommending it anywhere and to anyone I can.
The result of the debate was: 73.6% for the motion, 19.3% against, 6.9% undecided.
In this year’s BBC 6 John Peel lecture, Brian Eno’s chosen topic was ‘The Ecology of Culture’, although his fascinating talk could equally have been entitled ‘The Economy of Culture’.
In it he attempted to set himself the task of answering two questions:
1. Is Art a luxury?
2. What are the conditions in which the Arts can flourish? Continue reading
A friend of mine recently dismissed Jeremy Corbyn as being not just as a man in his 60s but also as a man of the 60s.
The implication being that he speaks for an era that has passed and therefore advocates policies that are out of date.
If this were remotely true, I doubt he would have engaged and inspired so many in his remarkable path towards becoming leader of the Labour Party (From “Jez-he-can” to “Jez-he-did!”).
It is significant that he has been able to win over not only voters of his own generation (he was born in 1949) but has also managed to mobilize otherwise disillusioned youths who have not previously had a Socialist option to vote for (born under Thatcher – raised under Blair). Continue reading
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