One step forward, two steps backwards
Andrew Simms’s article ‘Hope from the seed of trauma’ (NI 542) was a welcome tonic of optimism amidst the backdrop of a world with no shortage of crises.
Simms assures readers that ‘the future will grow from the present’, noting that the Covid-19 crisis led to an ‘awareness that genuinely different futures were possible’. At risk of pouring cold water on that spirit of optimism, I am slightly bemused as to why only one side of the 2020s was noted. The antithesis of that is the jarring post-pandemic present which surrounds us: war, economic malaise, rampant xenophobia and classism. I think it would be timely to add that things have the propensity to go backwards, as well as leap ahead. We mustn’t forget that other worlds are possible, but we should also remember that progress is not given, but demanded.
Stay or go?
We asked readers whether NI should stay on Twitter. These were some of your responses:
1
I would echo your concerns about Twitter and the substantial rise in hate and rightwing rhetoric, but there is a need for the alternative view to be heard. Thus, my view is that you should pay the $8-a-month fee and keep tweeting. My caveat would be to do this for six months and then look back and see if you have retained your audience. If there is a fall, simply cancel.
2
I vote to stay off Twitter. I have abandoned the platform since Elon Musk took over, reluctantly, because I have made many good connections over the last 10 years.
Continuing to use the platform implies acceptance of the unfettered distribution of misinformation, disinformation, hatred and bigotry. Sad.
Don’t politicize childhood
Matt Broomfield’s article ‘What if… children led the fight for their rights?’ (NI 543) makes for a bubbly read. Children are shaped by different shades of political thinking but our education systems don’t allow for the stages of child development, each one of which calls for a specific approach/nurturing/ opening up. Much could be achieved in the world if education could be based on these evolving ‘Kingdoms of childhood’, without constant interference from politics and economics. Another heading for the above article? Maybe, ‘What if… we regarded children as little adults?’ Thank you for making me take a position, Matt!
Too many ads
Out of 82 pages in the last edition, at least 22 contained either photos or advertisements – and a lot is just blank paper. The photos are always beautiful and evocative, but the one of the Vandana Shiva (The Interview, NI 543) took up the same space as the article. I’m very concerned about the cost to the environment of such a large magazine, both in terms of paper and transportation. I’m sure it could be reduced by at least half without losing its quality in both content and illustration.
The editors write: Ads contribute a small but still essential proportion of the income which keeps NI going. Good quality photography is a big part of our magazine, and we know readers value this. We work hard to make sure our paper supply and production processes are as environmentally friendly as possible. However we do offer a digital subscription if you prefer to save paper. We welcome your feedback and we’ll discuss it in our next editorial review.
Why I...
...make greener websites.
Digital technologies are responsible for four per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. Websites are hosted on servers, often in big data centres which require energy-consuming cooling systems. Data centres, transmission networks and devices all use electricity. The number and size of images, pages and video content on a website directly contributes to how much data is needed when we visit it. The bigger the site, the more energy is needed. Designing a greener website by making simple changes such as shorter user journeys (less stuff!) and compressed images and video links also has many additional benefits, including making it more usable and accessible.
