The perils of reproductive extremism

Across the world, lawmakers and activists are moving towards increasingly absolutist ethical and legal stances on pregnancy. In particular, social conservatives seem locked into draconian purity spirals. Roe v. Wade fell a year ago this week, and since then 14 …

Can we escape globalisation?

If there is a place that embodies our most romantic notions of living in harmony with nature, it is surely a small farming community in the rugged north of Portugal, Covas do Barroso. This village still maintains a tradition of …

Passing Observations 177

    There is a mistaken assumption that because something runs on electricity it is green and sustainable and probably non-fattening too. This is as stupid is saying that someone who is a politician must be honest. Most electricity is obtained by

Do Not Resuscitate!

Patients in hospital are today routinely asked if they will accept to having a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ note printed on their medical records or stuck on the chart at the end of their bed.

The idea of not resuscitating seriously …

Should we let the kids be cats?

“Creative” activities for little children tend to fall into two categories: unconstrained mess-making, and strict conformity to a pre-prepared template. The former encompasses the kind of smear and splatter “art” adoring parents pin to the fridge, while the latter looks …