Politics on Wednesdays Spring 2019
A new seminar series begin this week at the University of East Anglia, where we will be speaking about politics on the big issues. All welcome!
‘What Have the Gypsies ever done for us?’ (There’s the metalwork, art, music, boxing, equine expertise, skilled labour …. foodbank donations)
While out shopping with his baby daughter last month, Watson Harrop Jr. of County Durham, a Gypsy and professional harness racer, sparked off a social media challenge that has since gone viral. Mr Harrop filmed himself at his local supermarket donating a trolley of groceries to a foodbank, and nominating…
A Film Philosophy of Ecology and Enlightenment: An Interview with Rupert Read
Rupert Read is Reader in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia. He very kindly found some time in his diary to talk to us about his new book – A Film Philosophy of Ecology and Enlightenment - that has just been published by Routledge. Q Rupert Read, many congratulations…
European ‘Queue-Jumpers’? It’s Time to Drop the Imperial Fantasies
Enough of the arrogance, Theresa May. Time to show EU nationals some respect – writes Marina Prentoulis. As Theresa May tries desperately to pass her Brexit deal, she has developed a newfound interest in queues. Despite likely not having had to join a queue herself for many years, she explained…
Ethical questions over Number 10’s social media push for Brexit deal
The prime minister is on a mission to defend her Brexit deal. After a three-hour grilling from MPs on November 15, Theresa May came out fighting in a press conference, dismissing the idea that she would be ousted as Conservative Party leader. The next morning, she took callers’ questions about the…
The playing field between YouTube and television will be a bit fairer, but still far from level
Last week, the European Parliament adopted the revised text of the the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, which governs EU-wide coordination of national legislation on all audiovisual media. The revised directive, which aims to better to reflect the digital age, is expected to come into force by the end of the…
How In The Future Online Hate Content Might Be Both Created And Countered By Algorithms
Picture the scene: a webpage, online forum, or social media post containing a pile of hate speech content and also a heap of counter-speech content, none of which was created by an actual human being Companies like Facebook—consider Mark Zuckerberg’s recent testimony to the Senate—are now talking about the need…
No debate: The tweet that brought a shift in BBC climate change coverage
Tired of being asked to debate climate deniers despite the overwhelming scientific consensus that anthropogenic climate change is happening, Dr Rupert Read refused to appear on a BBC show to debate where there is no debate. His tweeted response drew a reaction even he couldn’t have imagined. At the start…
Voter ID: our first results suggest local election pilot was unnecessary and ineffective
Should we be asked to provide identification at polling stations? Toby James and Alistair Clark draw from new research to show that it is unnecessary and ineffective. The 2018 local elections in England were surrounded by a fierce debate over a pilot requiring voters to present ID at polling stations. The government…
Stick or twist: Should divided Northern Ireland change its electoral system? You can’t ignore progress
As Northern Ireland struggles to set up a new executive, a gamble on a new electoral system may be recommended. UEA graduate Sam Kenward makes the case why the constructive current system should be retained. With the current issues in getting a new executive set up in Northern Ireland, it…