Cremationism – Talking About the Climate Apocalypse. Why Civil Society Needs Civil Speech. And #AI Armageddon via Johnny Cash – plus more! #171
Grüezi! I’m Adrian Monck, welcome to the newsletter.
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1️⃣ Let it Burn! Cremationism
We’re stepping on the gas to the global crematorium.
Warm is cosy. Change is good. Language is lousy.
Environmentalists are all wrong when it comes to talking about what’s happening to the planet, says The Guardian’s Jonny Freedland.
Climate change sounds more intriguing than threatening. Global warming? Cosier winters and sunnier beach days. Bring it on!
When the green lobby talk amongst themselves, it’s acronym acrobatics: COP, ESG, SDGs, GRI, CO2.
Perhaps it’s time to talk about how fast we want to drive to the global crematorium. And the companies and politicians driving us there? Cremationists.
Meanwhile temperatures in Sicily are rivalling Death Valley at 49°C/120°F.
And scientists are starting to propose radical measures like solar radiation management – that’s turning down the sun’s power using atmospheric droplets or particles, mimicking what volcanic eruptions do.
So all the language in the world isn’t going to make the solutions less palatable or controversial, or the climate less critical.
⏭ If you can bear to read on the beach, take The Heat Will Kill You First.
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2️⃣ A Civil Society Needs a Civil Public
Tone matters – in media and social media.
Historian Katja Hoyer has a fascinating essay about Germany after WW1 and why its fragile attempt at democracy failed.
“One important factor has been less prominent in mainstream debates around the failings of the Weimar Republic: the role of the media.
“Again and again newspapers and posters incited people to commit acts of political violence in the immediate post-war years.
“The view that eliminating political opponents was in the people’s interest was also constantly confirmed in the media.”
One newspaper wrote of an overweight politician: “He may be as round as a bullet but he isn’t bulletproof.” He was assassinated.
Hoyer’s conclusion:
The tone of public debate also has a huge impact on how and indeed whether a democracy functions.
As Europe – which has some experience in this area – contemplates the moderation of social media hate speech (aka a business expense for social media corporations), the world’s richest man (aka a social media corporation boss) stands in opposition.
Is Elon Musk committed to free speech or unwilling to pony up to keep people playing nice?
Hit me up in the comments.
⏭ The only thing that can silence Elon Musk? A trip to China.
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3️⃣ Politics is Killing You
It’s making you miserable, sleep-deprived and stressed.
We all want people to be more politically engaged, right? Maybe...
Researchers used diaries to measure how much people encountered or engaged with political news, discussions or events in their daily lives.
People who were more exposed:
• Felt more anger, sadness, fear, and disgust.
• Had worse sleep, health and productivity, and more rows and stress.
Another paper put the problem like this:
“Traditionally political engagement has been conceived of as a public good, not as a threat to public health.
“A healthy and functioning democracy requires citizen engagement and participation.
“An obvious way to minimize a threat to public health is to minimize exposure, but to do so in this case seems civically irresponsible as it would prescribe not being an attentive and informed citizen.”
Let’s think about it this way. Politics is an unhealthy hobby. How can we make it healthier? Let me know below.
⏭ Voting is associated with healthier societies.
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4️⃣ Signs of the #AI Apocalypse
Johnny Cash sings Barbie. AI South Park.
From the excellent There I Ruined It, with @therealmockingbird doing the AI voice training.
Also this week, a US startup released a research paper outlining how viewers could generate their own episodes of familiar shows. They chose South Park for the demo.
⏭ ‘There I Ruined It’ has a brilliant YouTube channel.
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5️⃣ Hedgehog, Hedge Fund, Hedge Building?
Meet Europe’s biggest green fronted block.
⏭ Finally – a reason to visit Düsseldorf.
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6️⃣ What’s Putting the Squeeze on Silver?
The humble solar panel is sucking in the precious metal
⏭ Tesla addicts with home solar and all the kit can now “drive on sunshine.”
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7️⃣ Ads That Make You Think
Even if you’re not a footie fan, keep watching this.
⏭ Non-sporting reading on Bea’s book club podcast.
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If you enjoy this newsletter – please recommend it!
Best,
Adrian
