Category: Nature & the Environment
-
Hitched
Interdependence. This is my new favourite word. It’s an extremely pertinent term. A fundamental characteristic of our increasingly globalised economy and culture. It’s something that many reactionaries reject as they deride the Black Lives Matter movement and legendise undeserving colonialist figures, squabble over the ostensibly unique characteristics of ‘Britishness’, or procrastinate on climate change; but…
-
When Governments Lie Citizens Fly
When it comes to climate change the Government lies to us, but we also lie to ourselves. Again and again we are told by the honourable conservative political elite that the UK is a world leader in the fight against climate change. Many of us clearly realise that this neat slogan is often furtively utilised…
-
The Overpopulation Myth
Just because Thanos erased half of all life in order to bring balance to the universe it doesn’t mean that everyone who is concerned about overpopulation is also an eco-fascist beset on subjugation and murder. It is quite probable that they’re simply anxious about the climate and ecological breakdown and see overpopulation as a legitimate…
-
First, Rebel Against Yourself.
In Owen Jones’ recent interview video with Extinction Rebellion, Roger Hallam criticises the political ‘left’ as having been perpetually dishonest about what economic action is required to mitigate the climate breakdown and what cultural changes this will necessitate. He contends that the ‘left’ have become so embroiled, so entrenched in the (conceptually politically right-wing) neoliberal…
-
The International Extinction Rebellion
I really am sorry about the inconvenience, Mr Commuter – we all are. Yet, dare I say, your personal inconvenience is a small price to pay in order to prevent the collapse of civilisation.
-
Climate Change: The Elephant in the Room
The elephant in the room is trampling all over us. Yet we’re still living, thinking and talking as though it were not there. Climate change is so inescapable, so entangled within the definition of our politico-economic system, that to explore it, to educate about it, is to create a wide-spread existential crisis wherein the persistence…
-
The Glorious Twelfth: What the BASC Aren’t Telling Us
The Glorious Twelfth has passed. Which means that for the next 25 weeks droves of white, upper-class, tweed-adorned cronies, sharing in their conceited politico-moral sensibilities, will make to the Scottish Highlands, the Peaks and North Yorkshire (and anywhere else that’ll entertain them) to take part in a legalised blood frenzy. It’s not that I have anything against the upper-class…
-
Look Zoos Talking
Blackfish stirred up a storm. The documentary exposed Sea World for the mistreatment of its captive orcas, its inhumane and sometimes fatal capture, breeding and training methods, its coercive staffing procedures, and the comprehensive duplicity of its senior management and public relations teams. In August 2015, almost two years after its release, Sea World reported an 84% drop in second-quarter profits.…
-
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
“[I]nstead of making excuses tomorrow to our children and grandchildren, we should be taking action against climate change today.” – David Cameron, COP 21 Summit in Paris I haven’t had much time to write recently. Besides working a day job I’ve been supporting Campaign Against Climate Change with their current campaign, Going Backwards on Climate Change – a cause that’s…
-
In-Out, Shake it All About
History seems to have taught us nothing. Those who experienced the world wars have almost all departed us, and with them we’ve lost the memories of what a divided Europe looks like. We forget why the EU was established in the first place. Originally formed to increase European cohesion through geopolitical and social inclusivity, the EU is now seen…