A few years ago I discovered by chance that, in the ’80s, a Mr E. D. Hirsch Jr. published a book titled “Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know” which listed the “5,000 essential concepts and names – 1066, Babbitt, Pickwickian — that educated people should be familiar with”. Mr Hirsch wrote that book… Continue reading
Is the engineering of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) a dangerous technology posing grave risks to human and ecological health? Or are GMOs a potent new tool in the onward march of modern agricultural technology in its race to feed the world? In a recent opinion piece – Avoiding GMOs Isn’t Just Anti-science, It’s Immoral –… Continue reading
A radical change is taking place. Cities around Europe – through platforms, movements and international networks – are creating paths for citizens to participate in and influence politics directly. Joan Subirats, one of the founders of Barcelona’s municipalist platform Barcelona en Comú, discusses how cities can deal with uncertainty and provide a new type of… Continue reading