Opinion And Debate

Continued from the front page:

While we are becoming attuned to the consequences of global warming in Europe, facing tragic floods and scorching heat simultaneously this summer, the rest of the world has been taking a battering for the better part of a decade. We are now, as a society, playing catch-up with the consequences of our own development, and we need to work fast.

The UK and European Union urgently need to prepare for an influx of climate refugees, and our civil societies need to recognise our responsibility to accept people. It is entirely possible to house and protect many more people than our nations currently accept. With an urgent restructuring of the housing systems in our country, multilateral efforts to introduce higher wealth and corporation taxes, and investment in green and efficient systems, this challenge could be met. It will take great change, of course, and will be met with large opposition, but these efforts will provide the UK with a desperately needed opportunity to demonstrate world leadership. to form relationships with them, but the fact of the matter is that these beliefs have had growing support since they first emerged and has serious supporters who are willing to take up arms due to what is perpetuated by this theory. California, Toronto, and Florida have all had killings with motivations tracing back to this sinister form of misogyny. So, why aren’t we doing anything to tackle it? The Plymouth shooting itself had very limited coverage and only recently have the police even started looking into reclassifying the attack as terrorism. Even the attacks in the States and Canada have not resulted in any long-term government initiatives or policies to combat this radicalisation of young men, and that is what it boils down to at the end of the day.

Inceldom is a radically hateful theory that endangers not only women’s lives but everyone’s the longer it is ignored. We need to change that mindset otherwise the Plymouth shooting will not be the last tragedy, but rather the first in a long list of lost lives.

It is possible that the unpredictable hand of fate will allow cooperation on this issue to repair the cross-channel relationship, as the UK’s eternal indecision on its relationship with the world goes full circle once again.

The Growing Terror of Incel Culture

AELIYA RAZVI | CONTENT WRITER

The recent tragedy in Plymouth has led to an increased scrutinization of the way in which young men are engaging with a certain corner of the internet known as ‘Incel Culture’. Inceldom is an online subculture that is filled with men who describe themselves as involuntary celibates, in other words men who desire sex but are unable to get it due to the way society has supposedly conditioned women to find them conventionally unattractive, therefore barring them from having an intimate relationships.

The dangers of this culture have been recently flagged after an analysis of Jack Davison’s, the Plymouth shooter, internet usage and history which found a strange fascination with this ideology. From active participation in perpetuating harmful theories from the Incel culture on his social media to making reddit posts three months before his attacks admitting to reading about the blackpill, it is safe to say that Davison was very familiar with the intricacies of Inceldom and may have even felt understood by it. This is perpetuated by the supposed Blackpill. This is the belief by some in the Incel community that some men are born at a genetic disadvantage to other men due to a premade social hierarchy. It is an extremely isolating theory that otherises men who may relate to the experiences it describes. More insidiously, it removes any hope someone who may believe in this has for an intimate and romantic relationship with a woman. This can lead to a hatred of women themselves by some of these men, as the blame for the societal hierarchy that has placed them at the bottom is traced back to all women and the idea that women are shallow minded, only going for “chads”, another Incel term referring to conventionally attractive males.

It is clear to anyone who reads into the Incel ideology that it is entrenched in misogyny from men who believe women are at the root of all their problems, and who refuse to take accountability for their behaviour. In all likelihood it is these men’s refusal to change that is the real reason women are not inclined

Withdrawing the Troops: How This Adds to the History of Failed Conquering Afghanistan

ANANYA KRISHNA | CONTENT WRITER

Biden's decision to withdraw troops has been the most pressing international news over the past couple of months. Most media outlets have concluded that this choice, leading to Taliban comeback, has contributed to the rising human rights violations now occurring, especially to women and children. Yet, what does Afghanistan's history of failed invasions from empires play, and how does this shed light on Biden's decision?

The Financial Times (June 16th) states that the withdrawal of troops adds to "a long list of the world's greatest powers whose missions in Afghanistan failed" and re-establishes the country as a graveyard of empires. But how exactly did the country earn this title? Alexander the Great is one of the more well-known early conquerors to have invaded Afghanistan; the first account was Darius the I of Babylon in 500 B.C. The list grew to add others such as Genghis Khan in the 13th Century, Britain in the 20th Century, the Soviet Union throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, and the United States. Unlike any other country on Earth, Afghanistan still lives off the same tribal ideals built upon, and its history almost mimics the land itself; stubborn and robust. This tribalistic quality is brought out when discussing the history of Afghanistan and is always the reason for no signs of long-term change in the nation.

Every attempt to occupy Afghanistan has ended in the same way; the Afghan people fought off the occupying body.

Focussing more on the modern examples, all three withdrew from Afghanistan for the same reason – the consequences occupying Afghanistan had on their resources. The former U.S. Ambassador and Special Envoy for Afghanistan Peter Tomsen has argued that American policymakers still do not understand Afghanistan, nor do they appreciate the effect western intervention has on extremism. You cannot fight fire with fire; primarily when Afghanistan still utilises the same qualities it was built upon. Their ability to fight back against external forces will have only strengthened throughout their history, especially as various nations throughout history, with different approaches and ideals, have tried and failed. Afghanistan's strength is in its past whilst most countries draw it from their present and future, which accounts for the difference in perspective, almost akin to speaking two different languages. Attempting to create change with this vast difference in outlook would come across as condescending to the Afghanistan state provoking their fight instinct.

This response has only grown in the last 20 years. As the Hindu Times points out, the Taliban now have "a unique advantage of having acquired monopoly of state power," which allows little room for the public to freely voice their no-confidence in the state, but also for foreign attempts to lend help. The lack of continuous effort to establish a more cohesive and progressive environment in Afghanistan has created the space for the Taliban to gain more power and expand into into the nation's political sphere. Whilst America has been struggling to concoct how to occupy Afghanistan since 9/11 effectively, the Taliban created powerful roots in the country that American troops cannot weed.

As the proverb goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. As Afghanistan has shown throughout history, they aren’t ready yet to drink the water representative of nation building and governing centred on progressive ideals which clash with the beliefs which are the foundation of their country.

Source: Getty Images

Should We Start Grieving for Humanity’s Previous World and Environments?

EMILY RODRIGUES | CONTENT WRITER

With the UK due to host the upcoming UN Cop26 meeting across late October and mid-November, it is a nightmarish thought that environmental action is not occurring at a quicker rate than climate change.

Over twelve days of conversations in Glasgow, the UK will head the 26th Conference of the Parties with the hope of providing strengthened plans that align with the goals included in the 2015 Paris Agreement. As discussed alongside the requirements of the Paris Agreement, parties should be providing an updated five-year national proposal to reflect their methods of reducing emissions. However, in recent months, the Paris Agreement has attracted more media coverage over the United States’ decision for withdrawal and readmittance alongside the change in governance than the original goals themselves. This is particularly alarming as the United States of America is ranked as the secondlargest emitter of carbon dioxide after China. Furthermore, with many of the elected members of the conservative parties receiving criticism for the irony of their actions, it does question how many if, buts, and maybes are used to counter our environmental plans and whether our government is willing to follow their propositions. Namely, Boris Johnson’s arrival at Cornwall’s G7 summit sparked controversy over how environmentally conscious his use of a private plane was, with many calculating how much unnecessary carbon was generated from his journey. Despite the continued fatalistic and foreboding descriptions of the environmental consequences, it is both the approaches and vacillating opinions of politicians that result in idle, unclear and ineffective plans of action.

With current environmental activists such as Greta Thunberg providing brutal accounts of the environment’s present and future states, has society’s response to her warning speeches differed from David Attenborough’s previous attempts? It does not seem to be the case. Despite the different approaches from a variety of activists, it appears our global ‘effort’ has resulted in a minuscule effect and rather than being back to square one, arguably we have never resided anywhere else.

As the president of the upcoming Conference of the Parties, Alok Sharma is responsible for investigating the progress of global plans to reduce carbon emissions. A significant piece of evidence that will inevitably be discussed is the recent report by the IPCC on the correlation between extreme weather, the climate crisis, and consequential disasters. The report has highlighted a requirement for a rapid turnover as temperatures are set to rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius resulting in catastrophic extreme weather. The IPCC warns that during the upcoming Cop26 meeting, targeted NDCs (nationally determined contributions) must result in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and preventative methods against rising global temperatures. The unsettling findings of the report demonstrate that globally, entirely irreversible damage awaits the future of humankind, the Earth and its environments. When in previous diagrams, 2030 has been stated as the target year and decade to achieve climate crisis goals, is it realistically possible for global efforts to demonstrate enough positive change in the nine years left?

The ‘F-Word’: The Return of Fascism in Modern Politics

JACK EDWARDS | CONTENT WRITER

Extremities within politics have always, and will always, exist. As long as someone has an opinion there will always be someone ready to contest it. Though it is hard to believe that in the twenty first century political radicalism exists, it is now taking centre stage in many countries across the globe. The COVID pandemic, far from uniting political opponents, has only worsened these sentiments in pushing people to extremes. One of these extremes being fascism.

Whilst it is perhaps hard to see the infection of fascism growing within modern politics it is not impossible. Within academia there is still a contested debate about what fascism truly is, however, many symptoms are evident earlier on; for example, a distain for ‘othered’ groups, strong nationalistic rhetoric, and contempt for opposition. The list goes on. In many areas these sentiments are gaining traction, and have been for the past decade, with COVID exacerbating the situation. Misinformation and crises’ during the past year and a half have pushed many already disgruntled people into the arms of radicals who promise to fix what modern governments have failed to. For the past twenty years in western countries, like the UK and US, many liberal policies have taken the foreground in political debate. To some this detracts from what some people see as national priorities. With Donald Trump came a wave of right-wing politics that reared its ugly head. From the ‘Unite the Right rally’ in Charlottesville, Virginia to the Capital Riots of earlier this year, Donald Trump did not fail to assert a new political thought that had not been predominant for decades. Similarly, in the UK migrant fears and economic downturns meant many were pushed to political fringes; far right parties and elements of the leave campaign have ensured a rise in xenophobia towards marginalised groups.

Ultra-nationalism and white supremacy have fuelled these rhetorics within Western countries. In other European countries, fascism and far right governments have taken control, further pushing fanatical ideologies that affect marginalised or abused groups; Poland’s attacks on women’s and LGBTQ+

Source: Flickr, Antmoose

rights, Hungary’s abuse of LGBTQ+ rights, Germany’s rise of anti-Semitic attacks, and the ever-growing fascist movement in Italy that already contradicts itself as it begs for power. Have we reached a breaking point that will see the world consumed into an Orwellian dystopia?

The answer is no, but action needs to be taken. Walden Bello writing for Foreign Policy in Focus emphasises “eroding the collective memory of 20th century fascism’s most diabolical crime must surely count as one of 21st century fascism’s biggest successes”. If we want the depravity of fascism to be stopped then people need to act now, gain knowledge on how fascism works and how it can be stopped before it starts. Ultimately, extremities within politics will always exist, but if behaviours like these are not monitored or stopped then fascism globally will continue to worsen. Fascism is returning to where it originally festered, but it is up to all of us to stop it.

THE FOUNDER September 2021 OPINION AND DEBATE 11 The Concerningly Predictable Phenomenon of Antivaxxers ETHAN KOSAK-HINE | CONTENT WRITER The macro effects on the globe are no less devastating. Unequal access to vaccines has divided a world in two, and the lack of a unified response has left international relations wrecked across regions. Covid-19 started as a virus, but its long shadow is beginning to be cast. The physical impacts of Covid have become a stark reality of our times. As of the 8th September, according to government figures, 133 000 people have lost their lives to Covid. This is more than the civilian casualty figures of the First and Second World War put together. As well as mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, this figure includes those who were a beacon of hope during the isolation of lockdown. Captain Tom Moore, whose 100th birthday walk for the National Health Service bought joy across the country, died himself of Covid-19 on the 2nd February 2021. Rather than the end of Covid being in the news mark a new, sunny chapter from which the United Kingdom can rebound, the next phase seems bleak. The physical toll of Covid-19 is not merciful and is twinned by its equally deadly counterpart: the mental toll. In June 2020, according to the ONS report, 19% of adults experienced some form of depression. In a time of ever dwindling mental health resources, a growth of 1 in 5 people with depression can only be described as a mental health emergency. The government over the next 5 years will be facing the dual dilemma of balancing the national books while also having to contend with a complete collapse in the mental zeitgeist of the nation. Even more worrying is the unequal nature of this crisis. Young women, who as a demographic have had to contend with collective trauma following the killing Sarah Everard, face the greatest mental health challenge with over 4 in 10 having depression. Resources are scarce but are going to have to be focussed. The idea of this government being able to successfully face this challenge, with its track record of underfunding mental health services, does not inspire much hope. The global impact of Covid is no less catastrophic. Wealthier western nations were easily able to acquire vaccines – despite the slowness of the EUs acquisition. However, those with less geopolitical power have not been able to compete with the economic giants. Huge swathes of Africa and South America have been left with few vaccines resulting in Covid rampaging through their nations. In a divided world, this unequal access has been a matter of life and death. The coronavirus pandemic had obvious immediate impacts. The loss of lives, the tanking of the global economy and the restrictions of freedoms. However, the longer-term impacts will be just as stark. We’ll continue to lose loved ones. We’ll continue to face the trauma of the last 24 months. And we’ll still be haunted by Covid-19.

Since the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine, the anti-vax movement has become dangerously prevalent. But its existence is more than just predictable, as a society we share the blame for its inception.

The anti-vax movement is inherently unscientific. Any more than a surface level review of the evidence makes the claims of anti-vaxxers laughable. A common argument is that the vaccine is linked to a high number of deaths - and hence, is unsafe. The ‘evidence’ for this usually comes from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database, a tool designed by the CDC and FDA to track the early signs of any safety issues with a particular vaccine.

In the six months between December 2020 and August 2021, over 346 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the US and VAERS only received 6,490 reports of death (0.0019%) among people who received a vaccine dose. This becomes even more underwhelming when you factor in that during this time the majority of vaccines went to the already vulnerable. To really drive the point home, the data in the VAERS database is entirely self-reported. In short, the scientific evidence supporting vaccine-hesitancy is almost implausibly weak. Anti-vaxxers show the tangible danger that humouring these beliefs can pose.

Not all beliefs are inherently harmful. However, humouring those that lack evidence inherently trivializes logical thinking. For example, ghosts and broader beliefs in the supernatural and metaphysical are relatively harmless beliefs to hold for the most part. It is even often argued that the lack of empirical supporting evidence is irrelevant due to the comforting properties that such beliefs may hold for the believer.

Source: Spencer Davis on Unsplash

Furthermore, any argument against these extraordinary claims is often met with indignant demands that one respect others’ unsubstantiated beliefs - occasionally citing that everyone has their own 'personal truth'. On the surface this seems like quite a nice idea. However, by normalising this general lack of respect for the scientific method, it is understandable that a distrust in science and scientists may develop.

There is an alternative though. If, through education, we endorse a culture of mutual honesty and logical consistency, we can prevent the logical fallacies that lead to antivaxxers and any other anti-scientific ideas that could pose a threat to society. The truth is that no one benefits in the long run from intellectual dishonesty and ‘toleration’ of unsubstantiated claims. We all have biases and inconsistent beliefs, and we need a society that promotes the questioning of them. After all, how can we criticise antivaxxers for believing absurd claims about reality if we are unwilling to hold our own beliefs to the same level of scrutiny?

Covid-19 is Haunting the World

GEORGE WOODS | OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

The world in the last 24 months has been through a collective trauma. The Coronavirus pandemic has haunted the globe and left a world shaken, less confident, and more unequal than ever. For some, close loved ones have had their life cruelly cut short. For others, lockdown has meant isolation and mental decline – and with reports in I newspaper of a potential October lockdown, the spectre of this dismal life is starting to be seen on the horizon.