Photo: Randy Olsen — Mohanis fishermen in Pakistan use the masks to catch heron.
Hey all,
Another quick one because the weekend was full and my head is full of other pitches I want to make.
I’ve been thinking about ways in which people can make small changes that can have a big effect on equity in this unequal world. Something that seems to be the curse of the modern age is disinformation and no trust in “mainstream” media — whatever that means. I will touch on it again in a later letter, but I think understanding the way you are forced to consume online media can really help you decipher what bubble you might be trapped in and if it’s ethical to continuing using certain sites. Far be it for me to take any moral high ground when it comes to being ethical online, but it could be informative to understand how politics is in bed with social media and how the bureaucratic-like, uncompromising algorithms keep us from seeing what we should see. This article sheds some light on how we’ve let automated systems fudge our education. It’s about how Facebook made it impossible for people to share an article explaining that Australia did indeed have slavery, in spite of old mate Morrison’s claims to the contrary, just because of the photographic evidence of slavery in the article. It’s one small example of the problem, but something to ponder nonetheless.
Some things you may enjoy:
What do we do about the statues and monuments of colonial Australia?
Burundi loses its leader to COVID-19 (Financial Times gives you one free article)
Great, comprehensive list: How to support and celebrate First Nations food and culture
Two YouTubers I follow, Sarah Z & Lindsay Ellis, who do great, descriptive, well-researched essays to camera:
Does J.K. Rowling’s Transphobia Ruin Harry Potter? — Sarah Z
Protest Music of the Bush Era — Lindsay Ellis
And here is Part Two of the accent expert. This time, she looks at British accents in film:
Thanks for opening these and reading. I hope Friday’s is a bit more comprehensive, but who knows what may distract me!