The Nazis hid their crimes behind the famous legend that ‘Work makes free’. Indeed! But both agreed that extermination was the only suitable outcome. Nigel Pocock It has long fascinated historians and others how such an apparently sophisticated society as ancient Rome could also be so barbaric, an […]
Needle’s Eye
National character’: reality or nonsense?
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 […]
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 […]