Secrets and Hope in Our Mad World

Early in 2017 I read George Marshall’s book ‘Don’t Even Think About It: Why We are Wired Not to Think About Climate Change’ and I decided I would think about it. And I would read about it. Then I would write about it.

I write as a 'non-expert' and I'm hoping that your comments will help me to see whether the insights I've

gained make sense, whether the conclusions stack up and whether it's realistic for me to start feeling

hopeful about the future .

Nothing Surprises me any more


Does it matter that an MP is taking over the role of editor of a widely-read London paper? From what I understand about the important part played by the Press in how we see the world I reckon it does matter.  

Of course, he has vowed to run the paper in the interests of 'all Londoners' but I can't help wondering whether that means the billionaires who live in penthouse apartments in Park Lane or the homeless people dossing down on streets just a short distance away.
I've recently been reading what Bernie Sanders has to say about the power of the Press:
'Media shapes our lives. It tells us ... what is 'important' and what is 'unimportant'. Media shapes our political consciousnessand informs us as to what is 'realistic' and 'possible.' AND
'When there is round the clock coverage of the Super Bowl, we are being informed that football and the NFL (National Football League) deserve our rapt attention. When there is little coverage of the suffering of 43million Americans living in poverty, or the thousands of Americans without health insurance who die each year because they can't get to a doctor when they should, the corporate owned media is telling us that these are not issues of major concern.'
On top of that I remember the many people who have said that the best way to control people is to keep them scared and demoralised.  With all the stories of gloom and doom with which we are bombarded daily, including by the London Evening Standard, I reckon it's easy to feel pretty scared and the temptation is to pull up the draw bridge and look after number one.
So, every time we pick up the London Evening Standard - there's a good reason why it is given away free our attention is directed towards what the paper wants us to think of as important and what is not.  Powerful stuff that.  Whenever I see George Osborne's paper lying around I intend to pick it up and throw it in the litter bin. 



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