It's Going To Be A Good Week 4
Good News from the Frontline
Another batch of good news stories, inspiring things happening, and general optimism to start your week the right way. Like, comment, share and all that. Thank you!
One of the Netherlands’ wealthiest families is to pay off the debts of 1000 Rotterdam families a year, via its network of charities. The Van der Vorm family has launched the programme open to every family with at least one child and whose debts have been partly caused by a life-changing event, such as redundancy or death.
Meanwhile, the City of Arnhem is clearing the debts of 40-60 local families. “This trial is also meant to start a rethink on how society and the government handle debt.”
Stewart Brand is an absolute hero. He’s done so many very different things that have been part of my life in unconnected ways. Rediscovered this quote the other day - “A realm of intimate, personal power is developing - power of the individual to conduct his own education, find his own inspiration, shape his own environment, and share his adventure with whoever is interested.”
For one month of the year, a group of mostly middle-aged parents play an extreme game of tag in their small country town.
I really want this just-out book on Protest Architecture, including 176 encyclopedia entries and 13 case studies of protest architecture over more than 190 years, from the 1830 July Revolution in Paris to the 2022 Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.
Which leads to - hanging out in Brighton in the late-80s, early-90s, I found Kate Evans and her cartoons, including her book Copse, a ‘How To’ guide for road protestors that included lots of building tips.
Art For Anyone - an Access Workbook has been designed as a free tool to help arts organisations, community groups, and venues ensure they consider the access needs of different people when planning events.
Conor Mitchell's new piece for the Ulster Orchestra, inspired by Sophie Scholl, Pussy Riot, and Sinead O'Connor, looks wonderful. I would love more access to good contemporary classical and to New Music more generally. I was loosely involved in some interesting stuff in Sussex and worked with CoMA a few times.
The Groundswell Festival provides a forum for farmers, growers, or anyone interested in food production and the environment to learn about regenerative farming systems. Takes place on the 26th & 27th of June 2024. Speakers include Zoe Colville, Henry Dimbleby, and Jo Poulton, who has been working on ideas for a Basic Income for Farmers.
The elections last week reminded me of this, a piece I wrote in 2016, before the Referendum, imagining how it might feel ten years on.