Category: Discussion

We had seen a review of “Climate Restoration”, by Peter Fiekowski and Carole Douglis, published this year by Rivertowns Books, New York.  This argues that even if the world achieves Carbon-Zero by 2050 so much damage will have been done that serious restoration will need to happen. Will that argument be used as an excuse…

We discussed Adolf Hitler’s notion of leadership- the “Führerprinzip”, wielding absolute authority over the people.  In many ways this was a replacement for the role of the Kaiser, who had been forced to abdicate in 1918- with the distinction that monarchy had been something handed down by “ancient” history, tradition, and God.  By contrast Hitler…

We noted that the Pen Green Early Years Centre in Corby, Northamptonshire, had faced a severe cut in its funding, which has only partially been avoided:  Influential Pen Green children’s centre saved from closure after council U-turn | Early years education | The Guardian.  Pen Green Centre has had a well-deserved reputation for excellent work…

On a recent walk north of the Arctic Circle the temperature reached 28 degrees.  Further evidence, if anyone needed it, of global climate change, and happening fastest in the polar regions.  A visitor from Pakistan speaking at a conference spoke of temperatures there of well over 40 degrees.  “You’ve made a good choice to come…

We noticed two recent articles in the “New European” weekly newspaper- one on 2nd June which drew parallels between Boris Johnson’s response to the Sue Gray report, and Richard Nixon’s April 1973 TV address.  Both said they were “appalled”, claimed credit for ordering an investigation, talked about re-organising and getting on with the job in…

) In many ways this is far more of a reflection on our last meeting on April 7th than a summary, which would be difficult, given the range of topics we briefly mentioned. Our reading was from Jeremiah chapter 23 about true and false prophecy: “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I…

In his book 1984 George Orwell described the “Ministry of Truth”, in fact a “ministry” of pure propaganda.  It is a truism that the truth is the first casualty of any war.  The question is “Whose propaganda?” The story of the Donbass region of Ukraine has been badly told- or at least important elements missed…

Events in Downing Street and the Police etc raise questions about today’s standards in public life.   Institutional racism and sexism in the Metropolitan Police may be “hang-overs” from a time before society’s attitudes changed, or a reaction again a so-called “woke” agenda.  But either way have not been dealt with or even recognised.   The old…

Summary We discussed the way many societies, when they feel under threat by something they do not fully understand, make a political shift to a more authoritarian, “right-wing” style of government, choosing leaders who claim to be able to simplify and solve problems for them, so avoiding the hard work of analysis which is needed…

The UK at the moment seems to be treating Asylum seekers as if they are pirates raiding us- perhaps it would be more realistic if we recognised the great compliment being paid to us that people want to come here, for whatever reason.  We should stop treating them like dirt, and recognise what it is…