I read with great interest a recent article by Alan Rusbridger in which he proposed a mass exodus from Elon Musk’s Twitter/X (or “X-odus”).
I’ve been using the platform since 2011, and the difference in culture between then and now is immense: How can we routinely use a system that is so openly sympathetic to racists, white supremacists, homophones, extremists, and those who call for violence in the streets?
I don’t understand how it is legal for a largely unregulated communications infrastructure to operate at this level without some kind of regulator stepping in and addressing it. Furthermore, I cannot believe how many organizations are willing to promote their products alongside the same threats and calls for violence.
I don’t think we should make concessions to the far right, but at this point, any sane person should be no more on Twitter/X than they are on 4chan or the Stormfront forums. It’s time for Elon Musk to exercise his freedom to go somewhere else and realize that his warped idea of ”free speech” is a double-edged sword.
Stephen Bloom
Canterbury
Before you get on a plane, ask yourself: Do I really need to make this journey?
Simon Calder begins his article on Wizz Air’s £427 ‘unlimited fly’ promotion with the question: “How do you feel about the prospect of unlimited flights within Europe for a year, for a flat rate of £9 per flight?” The answer is disaster for our climate.
Aviation is one of the top three hardest industries in the world to decarbonize. Despite all the industry hoopla about so-called “sustainable” aviation fuels, every independent expert analysis (such as the Royal Society and Imperial College) has concluded that there is no realistic prospect of scaling up clean fuels within a climate-relevant timeframe, meaning that to reach net zero by 2050, all emissions would need to be halved by 2030.
Simon deserves credit for concluding his article by asking a question that all travelers should seriously consider: Is this trip really necessary? As you consider this, remember that increased air travel is exacerbating climate damage and undermining our chances of leaving a livable planet for future generations.
Nick Hodgkinson
Chair of the Leeds Bradford Airport Action Group
Animal farming is damaging the environment
When it comes to what is destroying our environment, don’t just focus on oil, as that will distract from the worst environmentally damaging and polluting industry: animal agriculture.
Not only does this industry cause severe damage to the environment (and therefore wildlife), it also prevents large amounts of carbon from being sequestered in the soil.
Livestock farming in particular is problematic not only because it is the most inefficient use of land possible, but also because it pollutes Britain’s land and waterways more severely than the human population.
A round-trip flight from London to New York emits as much carbon dioxide as one kilogram of beef.
Additionally, both beef and dairy are subsidized despite their environmental impact. With our population so dependent on imported foods, why subsidize such inefficiencies rather than making better use of the land?
Graham C
Address provided
What is happening to our nuclear deterrent?
Leaders of the previous administration, and certainly of this administration, have argued that we need to spend billions of dollars to upgrade our nuclear submarine fleet. We are told that this deterrent is essential to keeping us safe.
I think I will sleep better tonight, having read in the Independent that all six of the current fleet’s ships are in port for repairs, leaving them totally vulnerable to the possible attack for which we have been told we must prepare.
G-Forward
Stirling
There is something to learn from Tim Waltz.
The fact that US vice presidential candidate Tim Walz doesn’t own any stocks or a home and appears to have few investments has puzzled many, especially economists. But the answer may be simpler than you might expect: he was a teacher.
Teachers are often poorly paid and have a hard time saving money to invest. As vice chancellor, he might be able to find a way to pay teachers what they’re worth. After all, no one seems to be able to.
A word from a retired teacher!
Dennis Fitzgerald
Address provided