This week, a previously-unexploded bomb was safely detonated in Exeter. It was controlled, with no injury reports to date. But it does serve as an awkward reminder of the era in which European tensions were at their highest. Discovered by chance, had this bomb inadvertently self-detonated prior to being unearthed, it might have inflicted civilian... Continue Reading →
The threat of social media is becoming increasingly dangerous
Can social media be regulated? Having posted previously on potentially regulating social media platforms, I felt this topic required updating, not least owing to some drastic changes. To be unequivocally plain: social media is dangerous. It poses a very real threat, both on an individual, and global scale. Our existing relationship with social media is... Continue Reading →
Counterfeiting during the US Civil War – how to topple a government
Dismantling the Confederacy Through an unprecedented surge in the production of fake currency, Northern counterfeiters significantly contributed towards toppling the Confederate government. In extreme brief, the US Civil War erupted in April 1861, following the secession of several Southern states from the Union, primarily to preserve the institution of slavery. Concluded in 1865 by Robert... Continue Reading →
Britain’s statues – what is the historical reality?
Britain’s statues have long-since been controversial since what exactly they represent is ill-defined. Are they celebratory monuments, or historical relics? An educational tool, or offensive, exclusionary celebration? Well, the reality is both. This site has previously referenced the cultural difficulty enshrouding statues – interpretations are as diverse as Britain’s population. Taking Cecil Rhodes, for example,... Continue Reading →
Who was the first female President of the United States?
To clarify, the short answer is: no-one. To date, no woman has officially served as President of the United States. In fact, Kamala Harris (featured) is making history, as the first female, first black, and first Asian American to be Vice-President. A momentous achievement, just 232 years since George Washington’s inauguration, and subsequent all-male successions.... Continue Reading →
Micro-plastics: Yet another pervasive environmental threat
The natural environment has been invaded by 'micro-plastics'. Climate change is bad, and getting no better by the day. Even worse, the narrative continues to be hijacked by interests with vested futures in destroying the environment. Unbelievably, both those statements have somehow become controversial. The politicisation of climate change has inhibited the action that can... Continue Reading →
Lockdown: Is the cure worse than the disease?
No one should doubt that COVID-19 has been utterly devastating. It has ravaged populations and wrecked an entire generation. But this question relates to the wider impact of lockdown, supposed cure for the disease. Has it instead worsened the outcomes of a pandemic it was designed to mitigate? Evidently, we were ill-equipped to manage the... Continue Reading →
The Precariat: What is it, and why does it matter?
The ‘Precariat’, a term first coined by economist Guy Standing, refers to an emerging, multi-dimensional class in society, forced into an unstable relationship with employment. People who, through no fault of their own, but as a by-product of the global capitalist system painfully birthed into the 21st Century, cannot obtain secure work. The Precariat itself... Continue Reading →
The importance of remembrance
Today marking Remembrance Sunday, I felt it valuable to reflect more generally on this past week. Thankfully, services will be allowed to proceed despite the imposition of a second lockdown, even if they have been discouraged. It appears, however, some attention has been diverted towards arguments encircling remembrance, as people compete to remember ‘better’ than... Continue Reading →
Speechless.
Listen. America was given a referendum on basic human decency. And failed. The world should have awoken yesterday to see a 99% turnout of eligible adults against Donald Trump. Joe Biden has plenty of merits, he has his accompanying flaws as any candidate does. Certainly, he deserves all the votes he received, having dedicated his... Continue Reading →