Our Brave New World

The world is a vastly different place than what it was just 3 years ago. It’s been a shared experience all over the world and impacted everyone on the planet in some way. The pandemic has shone a light on other important topics too. It was obvious to many that the slower pace we all had to adapt to during the pandemic, by having to stay at home, not traveling to far flung corners of the earth and socializing with the vast amounts of people we’d usually cross paths with, meant that that earth was given time to recover and rejuvenate itself - one positive taken from the tragic circumstances we were faced with. The air was cleaner due reduced aviation; and as a result of people not being able to travel for anything but essentials. The roads were eerily quiet, and air pollution was drastically lowered. Nature was finally given a chance to heal due to our lack of freedom, which suddenly made the world stop and think. The focus was on the most vulnerable, and then the realization of that meant the focus was shifted onto the future, our wellbeing and the world itself.

This daunting prospect highlighted by Greenpeace, means bailouts for big businesses comes with conditions. Smaller businesses and industries felt the impact mostly from the pandemic, whereas huge financially stable business reaped the support which was needed elsewhere. Secondly, a reshape of the economy was necessary. The need for more mindful decisions when it comes to the world’s economy and where it invests its money, brought to the forefront of political decisions. A smart green economy is the new mind set we need to adapt, to fully recover and

by Sophie Fitzjohn.

sustain a healthier way of life for ourselves and the planet. Green energy is a way of achieving this. A sector which would provide well paid, lasting jobs.

Since 1958 CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has campaigned non-violently to achieve British nuclear disarmament; to get rid of the Trident nuclear weapons system and stop its replacement, as well as a global ban on nuclear weapons. Most recently, CND was one of the grassroots organisations that successfully campaigned for a global ban on nuclear weapons at the United Nations. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force in January 2021. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, of which CND is part of won the Nobel Peace Prize for this work. Their work continues until the UK gives up its nuclear weapons system and they achieve the aim of a world without nuclear weapons. This topic illustrates how crucial decisions made worldwide can impact our way of life drastically and even be detrimental. The pandemic has brought ethical subjects such as this one to the forefront of discussions.

Sophie says.....

The past three years are just a snapshot in time, but it’s also been a time of speaking up and being heard. In the summer of 2020 the Black Lives Matter movement was printed on newspapers all over the world due to the murder of George Floyd. The subsequent Black Lives Matter protests forced individuals, organisations and the world to confront its own role in dismantling systemic racism. A stronger representation of people of colour across many sectors and aspects of life was finally made a topic to take seriously. The huge loss of life due to the pandemic shone a light on this, as suffering and unjust outcomes are something everyone can resonate with, especially during such a fragile time. This subject matter was also made prominent due to the Me Too movement. Society is now making a stand; things must change.

As a whole, the past few years have been a period of devastating blows, harsh realities and deep reflection. Which has led to the urgency of making big changes worldwide. Adversity however brings unity, and this quality was shared by many during one of the hardest times in recent global history. It was truly a time of great resilience, as we found a way to be together, even though we were physically apart. Covid-19 will forever define the 2020s, but the world is slowly recovering, and the penny is beginning to drop globally that business as usual really is no longer an option.