We talk a lot - rightly - about the importance of preventing climate change in order to avoid environmental catastrophe. Less discussed is nature - the need to protect and preserve it but also its ability to teach us.
Category: Blog
The importance of trust
Trust in our institutions is in short supply, but it's crucial to a happy, healthy society. How can we rebuild it?
SHould we have charities?
Mel Young: I am interested in the notion that there are too many charities in the UK. I wonder what it means to have charities in society. If a country has lots of charities, is it a good thing? You could say that it was an indication of a society that cared and people were … Continue reading SHould we have charities?
Cycling towards a new ism
The humble bike is not only a key weapon in the fight against climate change - it also has the power to transform our health and even how we think about urban planning. In the wake of COP26, should we be focusing on bikes instead of electric cars?
Is COP26 enough?
COP26 is into its second week and while some agreements have been reached, many are saying that it's not enough and that we have to do much, much more in order to avoid a global temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees. So what will it take for global leaders to finally take the dramatic action that is so desperately needed?
Should young people lead the fight against climate change?
Across the world, leaders are setting ambitious targets in the fight against climate change, whilst at the same time greenlighting projects which contribute to global warming. Meanwhile, young people understand the threat the planet faces and are pushing for change - is it time to hand the environmental reins to them? Mel and Alex discuss … Continue reading Should young people lead the fight against climate change?
Could fixing food solve other problems too?
Food is intrinsically linked with so many other issues - health, trade, climate change... If we fixed our broken food systems, could we address those issues too?
Can – and should – great local ideas be applied globally?
There are examples across the world of communities, societies and entire countries implementing great ideas that really work, from subsidising electric cars in Norway to microinsurance in Rwanda. Could we scale these ideas globally and should we? Mel and Alex discuss in this week's conversation-blog. Alex Matthews: Something that I really enjoy is reading about … Continue reading Can – and should – great local ideas be applied globally?
Is humanity having an identity crisis?
Continuing their regular 'conversation blog', The New Ism's co-founders Mel Young and Alex Matthews discuss our collective identity crisis, and what we can do about it.
Should we be more like animals and lead with our hearts to save the planet?
The legendary conservationist Jane Goodall said in a talk recently that humans need to learn to work with our hearts as well as our heads, like animals, when it comes to protecting the planet. We discuss her ideas and how to make them a reality.