Yuval Noah Harari unearths the stories we live by - but doesn't recognise his own dangerous myths, says Jeremy Lent
If you want to best oppose Donald Trump, don't cloud your judgement by hating him
Tempo, Horizons, Patterns: Eric Liu on three ways we can shape time to serve our citizenship
Civic Meme Miscellany: Grieving dads play footy, recycling or re-using?, & not your average train ride
Free ice cream in Bologna, local retail services for volunteering in Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Do you know your "commons-based peer production" from your "cosmo-localism"?
EVENT SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Your Voice: A Workshop on Creative Activism@Conway Hall
Sat 12 Jan, 11-16 A day of exploring the legacy of protest songs and activism through a series of creative writing exercises, voice work and song-writing with Nina Millns and Natali Shaked.This will start you on the road to writing your own protest song. Throughout the workshop you will learn the basics of song-writing and explore the theme of activism through creative writing. You will also get a taste of voice work, designed to release any blockages and best deliver the message through your work. The second part of the day will be about beginning to write your song with support from the group and the workshop facilitators with an opportunity to share your work in progress at the end. Musical instruments, your voice and smartphone are all welcome and encouraged, but no musical experience needed. This event is part of When women gather … a public programme of events connected to Grace Gelder's photography exhibition at Conway Hall which has been curated with Marianne Mulvey. The exhibition runs from November 9th to January 31st. More here.
Human Library - hosted by Nova@TBC Thu 17 Jan, 14-20 You're invited to Ladbroke Grove's next Human Library!
Nova are hosting another 'Human Library', part of an international movement that promotes social contact to challenge prejudice, exclusion and discrimination. Just like in a real library, a visitor to the Human Library can choose a Book from a range of titles. The difference is that Books are people, and reading is a conversation. The Human Library provides a safe environment for people to engage in dialogue that has the potential to challenge prejudice, stigma and discrimination. It raises awareness of the multiple circumstances that can lead to bullying, abuse and hate crime and takes positive action to address it. More here.
Devoted & Disgruntled 14@Royal & Derngate
Sat 26 Jan - Mon 28 Jan Improbable's 14th unconventional convention for everyone who loves, makes and lives theatre and the performing arts. Devoted & Disgruntled 14 is an opportunity for arts people at every point in their careers, from audiences to artists, CEOs to FOH staff, grassroots groups to seasoned professionals, to come together and focus on the question "what are we going to do about theatre and the performing arts?" This three-day event uses an open space format, meaning that attendees set the agenda themselves – anyone can call a session, bringing the issues and topics they want to discuss to the floor. More here.
FINALLY All of you reading this have signed up to co-create The Alternative UK. Respect to you for knowing that an alternative is possible. We need your help and participation but know in return that not everyone has the time to do more than they are already doing. Not everyone can put the political work at the centre of their project – but they hope and wish that someone would. That someone is us. Please support our work so that it will get done – not just in a minimalist, marginalist way, but in a real and connected way that will cause lasting change. A one-off donation helps enormously. But a regular donation is a game changer.
