Still the best preface to a book I've ever read. From: 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' by Neil Postman. (And remember: this is from 1985 – that's 31 years before TikTok.)
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We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn’t, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares.
But we had forgotten that alongside Orwell’s dark vision, there was another—slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among the educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley’s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny “failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.” In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.
This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.
2️⃣ days, 3️⃣ sessions, 2️⃣9️⃣ panels, several exhibitions, networking moments & 1️⃣1️⃣4️⃣ speakers made this two-day summit, during the impact week in Brussels, unforgettable. ✨
Thanks to all our speakers, fellows & partners for this successful event.
See you soon! #acms2023
Back in video 🤩⏮️
Last week, nearly 450 members of the Ashoka community gathered for the annual #Ashoka 2022 summit in Brussels. 🇧🇪
It was a moment full of meeting, and a desire to build together after 3 years of being apart due to the pandemic.
Today is the launching of the #Ashoka Changemaker Summit 2022, in #Brussels.
Vibrant Welcone Ceremony with all our speakers.
🤩 Our welcome ceremony in pictures ⬇️
Some inspiring themes were discussed, with our fellows or community members :
💰Making Radical #Funding Decisions: How Philanthropic Practices Can Lead The Way Towards Supporting Inclusive Systems Change, with our brilliant fellow @ISchops, from RLKM
First sessions just finished. ✨️
The participants were enriched by the various interventions of #Ashoka's fellows and #changemakers.
Some pictures (and videos) 💫⬇️
Do you know why Bart Weetjens became an #AshokaFellow❔
Well, he decided to bring a totally new way to detect landmines… and tuberculosis with @herorats🐀
You want to know more?
➡️ Join us and meet many fellows @Ashoka#ChangemakerSummit in Brussels: https://t.co/ClkmfugmhG
🚨 NEW OPPORTUNITY 🚨
We are looking for a #Communication & #Community intern to work with us. Are you our next colleague? 😃
➡️ Apply via this link: https://t.co/ygjh4isYGF
⬇️ Tag people below or share with your networks!
📅 Today is the International Day for the Eradication of #Poverty 🤝
When it comes to homelessness, the example of Finland 🇫🇮 shows that dedication yields very #positive results! ⬇️
#EndPoverty#EndHomelessness
More than 1/3 of all food ends up being wasted! That's crazy, much more than I thought... Luckily some cities and people are acting to change that, hopefully more will join 🙏
Did you know that more than a third of all food goes to waste? 🍲🗑️
Check out Milan's innovative food policy, aiming to 1/2 #foodwaste by 2030!
Others are implementing similar food waste strategies, like Bergamo or Brescia.
@ComuneMI
@ComuneBs
@ComunediBergamo@RegLombardia
Many thanks for the recommendation @journalismnews! 🙏
Through weekly solution videos, we share a positive take on some of the most pressing social 🤝 and environmental 🌱 challenges. Follow us to stay tuned! 🤗
🚨 Struggling with congestion, pollution and traffic accidents, many European cities are reviving the tram 🚋🌍
Odense, DK, is one of the latest cities to have a tram, operational since May 2022!
#sustainability#mobility@CityofOdense @mobilityweek @EltisPortal @CIVITAS_EU