What the papers said in the week ending 5 November 2022
The Collins Dictionary word of the year is ‘Permacrisis’ – how apt ‘Sums up 2022’: Permacrisis chosen as Collins word of the year | Culture | The Guardian
Will we find a way out of the recurring awfulness?
- It is easy to have doubts: Bank of England warns of longest recession in 100 years as it raises rates to 3% | Interest rates | The Guardian
- BBC local radio stations face big cuts to content made for their area | Radio | The Guardian
- Disastrous cuts loom, but the Tories have a secret weapon – our weary fatalism | John Harris | The Guardian
- ‘Needless’ deaths of 30,000 heart patients in England since Covid | Health | The Guardian
- State of social care in England ‘never been so bad’, social services boss warns | UK news | The Guardian
- UN chief warns ‘we will be doomed’ without historic climate pact | Cop27 | The Guardian
- Number of people sleeping rough in London up 24% in a year | Homelessness | The Guardian
- Russia targets Ukraine energy and water infrastructure in missile attacks | Ukraine | The Guardian
But amongst all this there is celebration of people who have lived their lives and expressed their views and sought to make a difference:
- Eric Allison, Guardian’s prison correspondent, dies at 79 | The Guardian | The Guardian
- Ian Jack, Guardian columnist and former Granta editor, dies aged 77 | The Guardian | The Guardian
There is celebration of an ancient tree whose roots are twined in the ruins of a Cistercian Abbey founded 1128 Ancient yew in ruined Surrey abbey crowned UK tree of the year | Trees and forests | The Guardian
- The power of nature can be harnessed to provide widespread peace and happiness: National Trust to plant 1,200 hectares of flower-filled grassland in Devon | Conservation | The Guardian
- There is joy that technology can make hearing possible: Birdsong is music to my ears again | Birds | The Guardian
- Ageing is recognised to carry positive attributes: I like your tone: research suggests why older violins sound so good | Classical music | The Guardian
Many professionals seek to do what they know to be right, despite so many constraints and obstacles: Wes Streeting can see this GP any time | Letters | The Guardian
Tolerance and love can be extended, just as we have been taught: Church of England should allow same-sex marriage, says Bishop of Oxford | Anglicanism | The Guardian
Yet there are those who will not see the good in others who are different. Fear does give rise to anger and actions: Police urged to treat Dover attack as terrorism, as suspect’s home searched | Immigration and asylum | The Guardian
There is gross inequality between rich and poor: Enormous emissions gap between top 1% and poorest, study highlights | Environment | The Guardian
- The rich get very much richer: Calls for extension of windfall tax as BP posts ‘eye-watering’ profits | BP | The Guardian
- Those who are already poor become doubly disadvantaged by systems they cannot cope with: UK government’s £400 energy bill support going unclaimed | Energy bills | The Guardian
Research of various kinds is teaching us much about our human condition and how it can be improved: Study reveals link between sleep problems and glaucoma | Blindness and visual impairment | The Guardian
- Covid-19 and our responses to the pandemic have led to more problems of mental health. Services have become threadbare while need has increased. There is belief that some approaches forged in the pressures of the pandemic can be useful in achieving best use of resources: Revitalising mental healthcare after covid-19 | The BMJ
- Beliefs about the biochemical basis of mood disorders have gain a little more credibility: Study finds first direct evidence of a link between low serotonin and depression | Depression | The Guardian
- Creating equality long-term will have major benefits for health including mental health: Wealth as a determinant of brain health | The BMJ
- Being active and involved is powerful preventive medicine: Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia | Neurology
- Walking when you have osteoarthritis of the knee will improve your symptoms and long-term prospects: Association Between Walking for Exercise and Symptomatic and Structural Progression in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative Cohort – Lo – 2022 – Arthritis & Rheumatology – Wiley Online Library
It is wonderful that these truths which the Romans and our mothers knew, are repeatedly confirmed by modern science. Their application is simple, inexpensive and available to us all.
Will we miss our Fax machines? Fax for the memories: Ofcom backs death warrant for 80s office staple | Telecoms | The Guardian
David Jolley Chair of Christians on Ageing, in a personal capacity. November 2022
