Parenting in the age of neoliberalism: how extrinsic values have reshaped childhood
As I dutifully re-read the Paw Patrol book thrust into my hands by my three-year-old for what felt like the hundredth time that day, I found myself skipping over the section where the cartoon canine heroes receive “brand new trucks” and uniforms before embarking on their rescue mission. The jarring consumerism embedded in a children’s […]
Breaking the ouroboros* and ushering in new possibilities
Like many folks, I’m drawn to the much-quoted phrase by author, speaker and teacher, Bayo Akomolafe: “the time is very urgent – we must slow down”. (This piece by Bayo and co-author Marta Benavides, from which the phrase originates, is so wonderful and I implore you to read it!). This phrase encompasses a quiet but […]
The next big change in environmental campaigning – the opportunity of our shared ‘compassionate’ values.
Our work on Common Cause grew, at outset, from conversations among people working in the environment movement. These conversations shaped my report Weathercocks and Signposts, which was published by WWF-UK in 2008. And that report, in turn, led to wider conversations and collaborations.
Are the values we instill in our children leading us towards a sustainable future?
In 2009, the children’s marketing sector was worth £100bn – and it’s still growing. A significant portion of this total is spent on food marketing, predominantly promoting energy dense, low-nutrient food and beverages – typically unhealthy for children, but marketed to exaggerate health claims – and messaging (often with the help of celebrities) to suggest […]