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 →
We make history – (but not in the circumstances of our own choosing)
How much history can you tell in exactly-ish nine minutes? Quite a lot, it turns out. The Deaf Institute, a rather lovely space on Grosvenor St, just as you enter UniversityZone south of Manchester, hosted “We Make History” tonight, part of the "Being Human festival." It was basically 8 (less than the advertised 9) historians... Continue Reading →
A lively dodo!! On extinction, Derrida and solastalgia
Went do a corking seminar this afternoon, at the end (well, middle) of a corking day (more on that another time). It was by Gitanjali Pyndiah, a third year PhD student at Goldsmith's University (scene of a crime against academia and activism 10 days ago, but I digress). She's looking at how 'we' (people from... Continue Reading →
“Learning Curve” briefing on OECD and #coal subsidies decision #climate #roadtoparis
On Tuesday the OECD will be meeting. It's the rich countries' club, a useful talking shop for elite decision makers. On the agenda is what to do about the awkward fact that while we SAY we want to stop the world getting more than two degrees warmer, at the same time we are allowing public... Continue Reading →
Scared now, because only John Major can save the UK.
Only John Major stands between us and a Pinochet-style coup. What have I been smoking? BBC Radio 4 news, is what(1). The slide towards living in a totalitarian state is a long, slippery and mostly 'gentle' one. The always-slender civil liberties we have (and fwiw, imma rejoin Liberty), are under attack. I won't bore you... Continue Reading →
Citizens, arrests and seven metre dinosaurs: A history of the UNFCCC #climate protests
My latest piece, for the Conversation, is out. Here’s a scene that will be familiar to anyone who has watched media coverage of a major geopolitical summit: By mid-morning the main entrance to the UN’s Palais de Congres, and its side entrances, were ringed by Swiss and German citizens, chained together. The blockade was total,... 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 →
The spectre of Tom Cruise hangs over the latest Bond film
A taped message. An agent forced to go rogue in his battle against a secretive globe-spanning violent criminal gang. His boss initially pursuing him, but by the end getting out from behind the desk and getting his hands dirty. Confused talk about democracy. An extremely beautiful and much younger European woman at his side, potentially... Continue Reading →
Oh, btw, Shell, we have that ‘hybrid world’ – thanks in part to you…
Yesterday I posted a piece on Shell's beautiful (in a Leni Riefenstahl kind of way) new advert in which two vegan, pierced women act as spokespeople for the exploration, extraction and burning of natural gas. I should have pointed out that this advert is also an appropriation of the whole "we need more women in... 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 →
