*[Enwl-eng] It's a huge year for democracy: are we ready?
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Thu Jan 4 19:48:13 MSK 2024
+ Scientists talk to lucid dreamers
- Today's top story: Why have authoritarianism and libertarianism merged?
A political psychologist on 'the vulnerability of the modern self' View in
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| 4 January 2024
2024 is set to be a record-breaking year for democracy.
Around half the world’s population will vote in an election over the next 12
months. Ballot boxes will be rolled out in the US, where I am in the UK and
across the European Union for the European Parliament vote in June, to name
just a few.
From one perspective, the prospect of millions of people
expressing their fundamental rights at the same time is thrilling. From
another, it is deeply anxiety inducing. Our political identities are
evolving in ways that we don’t yet fully understand. One of the most
confusing of these evolutions is the blurring line between libertarianism
and authoritarianism — this discombobulating sense that people are voting
for autocratic leaders and calling it freedom. That matters in the US and
European Parliament elections, where extremist politicians who gleefully
talk of rolling back our democratic norms are standing for office and
enjoying a popularity that many find difficult to understand.
Political psychologist Barry Richards seeks to pin down
this paradox in a fascinating article to start this bumper election year.
For him, the pandemic offers evidence of how we got here and how what he
terms “the fragility of the modern self” leaves us vulnerable to voting away
our own right to vote.
If you’ve decided to go plant-based in 2024 and need
inspiration to stick to your goals, have a look at this new study showing
the significant contribution you’d be making to air quality. Our food
systems are responsible for a third of our global greenhouse gas emissions,
so by cutting back on animal products, you’d be making a big difference.
Others are exploring how agricultural processes themselves
could be made more planet friendly, including wine. It’s possible that if we
grew our grapes like the Romans did — by trailing their vines into trees
instead of lining them up in rows, we might end up with more productive and
environmentally sustainable vineyards.
And if neither of these ideas motivate you to go a bit
greener in 2024, consider that without a healthier planet, you may have to
kiss goodbye to your winter ski holidays — because skiing will no longer
exist.
Laura Hood
Senior Politics Editor, Assistant Editor, The
Conversation UK
Why have authoritarianism and libertarianism merged? A
political psychologist on ‘the vulnerability of the modern self’
Barry Richards, Bournemouth University
It is now not uncommon to find people supporting leaders
like Donald Trump while insisting the state refrains from intervening in
their lives.
Switching to plant-based diets means cleaner air – and it
could save more than 200,000 lives around the world
Toon Vandyck, KU Leuven; Marco Springmann, University of
Oxford
Switching to a plant-based diet could save lives.
The study of dreams: Scientists uncover new communication
channels with dreamers
Başak Türker, Institut du Cerveau (ICM); Delphine
Oudiette, Inserm
Some dreamers were able to distinguish real words from
invented ones by smiling or frowning.
Will we be able to ski in a +2°C world?
Hugues François, Inrae; Raphaëlle Samacoïts; Samuel Morin,
Météo France
Skiing is central to the economy of many mountain regions
across Europe. How are they coping with climate change and what room for
adaptation do they have?
a.. Ancient Roman wine production may hold clues
for battling climate change
Dimitri Van Limbergen, Ghent University
Roman agricultural techniques may help wine
producers to tackle the impacts of climate change, and even the UN is
getting on board.
b.. Electric vehicles and the challenge of fire
risks in car parks
César Martín-Gómez, Universidad de Navarra; Mohd
Zahirasri Bin Mohd Tohir, Universidad de Navarra
Electric vehicle batteries have the potential to
catch fire, posing a problem for existing infrastructure, especially in
enclosed car parks.
c.. Global triggers: why these five big issues
could cause significant problems in 2024
Jose Caballero, International Institute for
Management Development (IMD)
Trends of global power tensions, open war,
democratic decline and extreme job market fluctuations are likely to
continue in 2024
Wolves return to Europe: what to do about them is a people
problem – podcast
Gemma Ware, The Conversation
More Europeans are having to learn how to live alongside
predators again. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast.
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From: Laura at The Conversation Europe
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2024 3:02 PM
Subject: It's a huge year for democracy: are we ready?
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