Paul Mcnamee

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Articles

No, net zero targets didn't cause blackout – nor are they doomed to fail

1 week ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

Denying the reality about climate change and net zero is a waste of energy What would you do if the lights went out, like in Spain and Portugal – if everything closed down? Go for a walk? Go native, and head for the hills, with an air rifle and a Bear Grylls book? Sit at a piano until you’d taught yourself the chord pattern for Werewolves of London?
Our water is filthy. It's time to float the idea of renationalisation

2 weeks ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

The widespread fury at the failings of water companies is driving an appetite for more public ownership The Boat Race is a curious phenomenon. Two of the most recognisable universities in the world, bywords for a certain establishment elitism, compete in a sport that is closed off to most people. That the BBC still talk it up and run it live says more about the straitened times the broadcaster finds itself in than the broad desire to see the blues give it some welly at Putney Bridge.
Why everyone should have a favourite tree

3 weeks ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

The importance of trees cannot be over-estimated. Government should be supported in efforts to increase numbers From my house, I see a lot of trees. We live on the edge of the city, just before it butts into the country, and the view from the back, over rooftops, is of trees. They climb out from the White Cart river valley, and up over the hill towards Glasgow. Mostly birch, ash and some oak, they signal the seasons. In winter frost sits between them.
The dark reality of Donald Trump's affect on bin collections in Birmingham

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

This is how the US tariff war could affect your bin collection Last week, a man dressed as a giant rat stood up at a city council meeting in Birmingham to ask about the ongoing bin-collection strikes. He said he was the ‘Selly Oak rat’. I think it was a man. The rats rummaging amongst the uncollected 21,000 tonnes (21,000!) of rubbish in the city recently hit the ‘size of a small kitten’ stage. By the time you read this, they may have got to the size of a dire wolf. Or a big man.
We must allow ourselves to feel joy wherever we can. Just ask Rod Stewart

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

There are enough reminders that life is nasty, brutish and short. Let a little light in It comes back to Rod Stewart, as things inevitably do. Or should. Many aspects of the life we live have a Rod-shaped element. Take football. Think of knockout competitions and you will think of Rod, a little jolly following a Celtic victory, drawing teams live on TV for the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, in early 2017. We’re eight years on and few moments in football have bettered that.
Labour's benefits cuts are short-sighted, whatever way you look at it

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

The unpopular decision to take money from society's poorest is a lost opportunity for this government to show a little bravery Sinéad Morrissey is a very fine poet. I don’t say this because she’s Irish and because of some inherent loyalty that means I have to say the Irish are the best poets. That would be crazy. Though Irish poets ARE great – obviously. And the Irish value poetry, and when you value something you respect it and take it seriously.
We wanted honesty, Rishi Sunak, not t-shirt slogans

2 months ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

Sunak apparently didn't believe in his 'stop the boats' slogan, but thought it would be a vote winner – which doesn't say much for his moral compass Yet another senior politician expresses buyer’s regret after his term in office is over. This time, it’s Rishi Sunak, the former PM. So, it’s pretty significant. He said that the ‘stop the boats’ message was “too stark”. He said he regrets ever saying it and conceded that it couldn’t be done anyway. He regrets ever saying it. Ever.
The idea of running off to a remote island is really appealing right now

2 months ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

But is there actually anywhere in the world left to hide, now that Elon Musk's Starlink can reach the most far-flung places on the planet? The appeal of the remote is strong. Any time an island, or place lost in the middle of nowhere, seeks new caretakers, there is a story. The most recent is Great Blasket, an island round the bend from Dingle, a part of Kerry, floating free, resting in the North Atlantic. It’s uninhabited, has been since 1953, aside from a lot of seals and puffins.
Climate change is keeping food from our plates. It's time for firms to step up

2 months ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

Shrinkflation stories might be clickbait, but they speak to a food insecurity problem that global corporations could help prevent I like shrinkflation stories. It’s the unalloyed fury they unleash. They come in earnest around Christmas. Somebody will find a box of Celebrations or a multi-pack of Mars bars and rant about the size. They are too small. There are too few inside. There are TOO MANY BOUNTY BARS – and they’re the same price as before.
OpenAI and the clash of the billionaire tech bros

2 months ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

Skip to header Skip to main content Special offer: Receive 8 issues for just £9.99! OpenAI and the clash of the billionaire tech bros Trying to explain AI to me is like trying to explain God to a horse. Words will be spoken and there might appear what seems, on the surface, some signals of sentience.