In a western world premised on a culture of denial of differences, is a concept of ‘national character’ meaningful? Or a basis for harmful stereotyping? Can we learn anything constructive about differences, if, indeed, they exist? . Nigel Pocock . Studies of neurogenesis and synaptogenesis (the life-long generation of new […]
Needle’s Eye
How a mindset aware education can transform deprived communities (II)
Namely that a ‘growth mindset’ approach to educational and social change is an extremely powerful tool, especially as regards the needs of areas of long-term deprivation. Nigel Pocock I defined a growth mindset as one marked by openness, a commitment to learning, and a belief that the brain […]
Modern trafficking and African-Caribbean slavery: A false comparison?
One of the greatest myths is that modern trafficking can be directly compared with African-Caribbean chattel slavery. There are a number of fallacies in this argument. Nigel Pocock Could it be, as is suggested by Professor Geoff Palmer, that local communities can talk about modern trafficking, because it […]
Disasters: hitting the poor the most?
There are two themes I want to explore in this article. The first is that all disasters are essentially man-made. Secondly, that the poor are always hit by far the worst. Nigel Pocock It might seem surprising to my readers to make the assertion that earthquakes and other […]
The discipline of silence: Narcissistic escape, or healing for the nations?
In the recent TV series, “The big silence” (BBC 2, 2010), it emerged that people are both addicted to noise and consumerism, and yet desperate for an escape from it. Nigel Pocock Gordon Brown promised more consumption in order to escape the banking crisis; more consumption drives wage […]