How has the internet splintered our democracy?
To solve the problem of negative digital disruption, technologies of the future must overcome the inequalities of today.
16 November, 2019
- The intention of the internet was not to threaten democracy, but it's becoming clear that's exactly what it's doing.
- To fix this problem, we must broaden the scope — politically, socially, and culturally — of who has power and governance over our digital technologies.
- The most vulnerable communities should be involved in a solution that can coexist with Silicon Valley.
Beyond the Valley: How Innovators around the World are Overcoming Inequality and Creating the Technologies of Tomorrow (The MIT Press)
To build a circular economy, we need to put recycling in the bin
Recycling is linear, but the economy shouldn't be.
15 November, 2019
Jason South/The Age via Getty Images
Too often the concept of a circular economy is muddled up with some kind of advanced recycling process that would mean keeping our industrial system as it is and preserving a growing consumption model.
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The right to know: How does censorship affect academics?
When academics and journalists forego sharing their findings, out of intimidation, we all lose out.
13 November, 2019
- Academic freedom is what makes a university space work as a setting to develop students' capacities. It is the permission to think freely, and have contrarian discussions, that leads to new insights.
- There are whole zones of knowledge that we never get to because of intimidation put on academics: "We simply don't know what we haven't even thought to ask."
- Self-censorship, especially regarding sensitive topics, is the dark matter of the academic freedom universe. Out of fear of being attacked, or their families being harmed, some journalists and scholars will forego publishing their findings.
- The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of the Charles Koch Foundation, which encourages the expression of diverse viewpoints within a culture of civil discourse and mutual respect.
We can halve most forms of violence by 2030. Here's how.
A second step is to determine where violence concentrates and who is most at risk.
30 October, 2019
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Violence has always been one of humanity's most serious global challenges. This is because for most of history, we were natural born killers.
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'The West' is, in fact, the world's biggest gated community
A review of the global "wall" that divides rich from poor.
12 October, 2019
Image: TD Architects
- Trump's border wall is only one puzzle piece of a global picture.
- Similar anxieties are raising similar border defenses elsewhere.
- This map shows how, as a result, "the West" is in fact one large gated community.
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