Someone who went on the climate march didn't see the organisers taking the coffins away from protesters and calling for police support. He did however comment "that there were more young faces in the crowd than usual". Memories are funny things. I remembered at that moment my grandfather and one of the recollections he shared... Continue Reading →
On existentialism, guilt, Godard and … Shell’s corporate framing strategy
Shell has a new advert – another clever and slick one extolling the virtues of burning gas, which, by pure coincidence, they happen to sell. Why now with this? Well, a mere three decades after the scientists started saying “we're gonna fry ourselves if we don't get off the fossil fuel habit” we rich white... Continue Reading →
Professor Kevin Anderson on #Paris #Climate #hope and much more
This post originally appeared on Manchester Climate Monthly. Climate scientist Professor Kevin Anderson spoke to Manchester Climate Monthly on Monday 23rd November. In the two separate videos that follow, you can see him outlining what is at stake in the upcoming Paris climate conference - the nature of the individual nations' pledges (INDCs) and how... Continue Reading →
Coping with Copenhagen, Parrying Paris etc
So, the climate activists are a bit stuck, now that the French state has said 'non' to their planned "manifestations" at the next climate talks. “We respect the decision of the state, but we are trying to find ways to keep on mobilizing and taking the streets in one way or another during the COP... Continue Reading →
Digital porn debate – neither heat nor light
I don't quite know what I think about porn. I don't think about it much, don't watch it (What never? No, hardly ever). So what? What I do and don't do, what I like and don't like has no moral weighting when we are talking about societal harm. This is a basic point that I... Continue Reading →
Reflections on feminism and women’s liberation
Sue Crockford is a London-based feminist. Here's a brief interview with her in which she reflects on how she got involved in the Women's Liberation movement (via involvement in anti-Vietnam War activity), what her memories of that time she cherishes, and what feminism means to her. Below, another feminist, Sarah Irving, writes about her reactions... Continue Reading →
Simians Cyborgs and Shell: on corporate propaganda and fallback positions
The oil major Shell has a blisteringly slick and seductive new advert that extols the virtues of gas as a ‘transition fuel’ (which it isn't). As a piece of propaganda, it would make Donna Haraway guffaw with delight. It’s 80 seconds of ‘Jenna and Cory’ who live together extolling the virtues of hybridity. They are 'alternative'... Continue Reading →
Of Monbiot, Manchester and miserable ‘feral’ futures.
Nature as redeemer, nature as escape, nature as the solace for our "gridded, controlled, mannered urban lives." So far so romantic. Well, nature is on the road, and she’s gunning for the lot of us. We’ve poked the beast, and now it really is waking up. On a quiet day, you could hear it snoring.... Continue Reading →
Terrible meetings? Here’s a nesta reasonable ideas…
According to the American humourist Dave Barry “Meetings are an addictive, highly self-indulgent activity that corporations and other large organizations habitually engage in only because they cannot masturbate.” (As in, meetings aren't just ego-potlaches, they're also for the recycling of anxiety and responsibility). While meetings might be full of wankers, they’re surprisingly joyless experiences. “Nesta”,... Continue Reading →
Letter in #Manchester Evening News about broken #climate promises
The Manchester Evening News has a letter today that slams Kate Chappell, the Executive Member for the Environment for a broken promise (she said she would set up a blog, never did so). The letter (written by some Moss Side malcontent) also points out that the so-called and needs-to-be-killed-off "Stakeholder Steering Group" won't even allow... Continue Reading →
marchudson.net 