The Monday Mix (05/07/2021)
Hey friends,
Today it was announced that here in the UK, all restrictions regarding Covid will be lifted on 19 July. This is despite cases increasing due to the Delta variant, which is nearing 30,000 cases a day.
While the removal of restrictions sounds good, the fact that the virus is circulating at such a rate is a cause for concern. We don’t have half of the adult population double vaccinated yet and 30,000 cases a day presents 30,000 opportunities for the virus to mutate and potentially evade the vaccine.
This is a situation which could have been avoided if the government here had better managed their border policy and not allowed flights from India into the country while the Delta variant was raging there in Februay and March.
As much as we all want the pandemic to end, this decision is a reminder that Covid is no respector of what we want. This decision could turn out to be the right one, or it could backfire and wreak havoc in Britain and beyond. Only time will tell.
Below is another of my older posts on Medium and one of my most popular. It deals with the sombre reality that are lives are fleeting and once we die, few people will remember us, unless you’re lucky enough to etch your name into history.
The Dangers of Social Media influencers
Social media influencers are one of the stranger phenomenons to come out of the internet. With the nature of these platforms, some people are able to amass a huge following. Something that wouldn’t have been possible before the rise of social media.
While this offers opportunities for everyone, it can also cause problems. Influencers aren’t vetted. They’re rarely regulated and if they do mislead people, it’s only after the fact that it comes out. This story is a reminder that the online world isn’t always what it seems. These platforms only offer a window into the lives of influencers.
Remember: they only share what they want you to see.
The Power of Platforms
Sticking with the social media theme, this is a thought-provoking piece by Zeynep Tufecki, who is one of the best writers on the web in my humble opinion. This piece was written three years ago, but after the insurrection in January, it’s as relevant today as it was when Zeynep wrote it.
Social media platforms have huge power, but are lightly regulated. They can amplify the voices of misinformation and agitators to millions. Previously, this reach wasn’t available to the cranks and conspiracy theorists who operated before the rise of the internet. Now, they’re not only able to reach more people, their reach is global. This is a massive problem and the case of Alex Jones exemplifies that problem.
It’s one we need to tackle in the coming years, if we’re to stop the backsliding occurring in democracies around the globe.
Sixty Years of Climate Warnings That Were Missed
Another excellent piece from The Guardian’s Long Read series. This one is an extract from a new book by Alice Bell, which examines how efforts to tackle the climate crisis have been stifled by big oil companies for well over 60 years.
The levels these companies went to to ensure the message of global warming was disputed is incredible and terrifying. It echoes the same campaign orchestrated by Big Tobacco against efforts to rein in smoking.
Reading this article made me angry. What these companies have done is akin to a crime against our species. They have willingly poured money into misleading the public over the effects of burning fossil fuels in order to ensure they can still line their pockets. If you want to read more on the issue, the same seies has another fantastic essay from a few years ago which is worth a read too.
Sisyphus 55
This is an excellent YouTube channel I’ve recently stumbled across. The guy running it looks at philosophy and the prominent figures in the field today and from the past. If you want to understand more abut the field, and enjoy watching stick figures on a screen, then this is a channel you’ll want to check out.
Book I’m Reading - Trouble in Paradise
This is the first book by the Slovene philosopher Slavoj Žižek. He’s an interseting figure and one who has a lot to say on the world today. This isn’t the easiest book to read; Žižek is heavy on theory and light on solutions to the problems he mentions. But it’s an interesting read nonetheless and one that makes you question your preconceptions.
Quote I’m pondering - Poverty is a virtue which one can teach oneself - Diogenes
That’s all for this week.
Until next time,
Tom