What the papers said in the week ending 9 October 2021
We have Nobel Prize winners:
- In Chemistry with a new approach to catalysts which promises more rapid development of new chemicals with a range of usefulness Pair win Nobel prize in chemistry for work on organic catalysts | Chemistry | The Guardian
- For peace– Campaigning journalists in Russia and the Philippines Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov win Nobel peace prize | Nobel peace prize | The Guardian
We have breakthroughs which have potential
- to improve mental health: Woman successfully treated for depression with electrical brain implant | Depression | The Guardian
- and to reduce the scourge of malaria WHO endorses use of world’s first malaria vaccine in Africa | Global development | The Guardian
But we read that worry about the climate crisis has spawned its own neurosis – ‘Eco-anxiety’: fear of environmental doom weighs on young people | Anxiety | The Guardian
We are warned that very soon one in every ten will have diabetes: One in 10 in UK will have diabetes by 2030, charity predicts | Diabetes | The Guardian
The pages of the Guardian have been dominated by revelations of the misuse of money, power and privilege by the rich, famous and powerful throughput the world and across every spectrum: Let the light in: why the Guardian is publishing the Pandora papers | Tax havens | The Guardian
The Covid Pandemic cannot be wished away – we know that it has to be addressed honestly and with a world-wide perspective: Covid ‘still running rampant’ worldwide, warns creator of Oxford vaccine | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- It is small comfort to know that responsible experts had advised the need to prepare defences against a coronavirus epidemic some years ago – but their advice was not acted on: Coronavirus report warned of impact on UK four years before pandemic | Health policy | The Guardian
- Even less comfort is the information that money given over to private hospitals in England from early in the Pandemic did not lead to these hospitals playing a significant role in treating people: Private hospitals treated just eight Covid patients a day during pandemic – report | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Or in the opinion that current strategies in England are less thorough and less effective than those operated by other countries: Why is England doing worse against Covid than its European neighbours? | Christina Pagel and Martin McKee | The Guardian
Other matters:
It is wonderful to know that personal exercise, often linked to fund-raising for good causes has not been blunted by the Pandemic and its lock-downs: ‘The London Marathon is back’: junior doctor stars as masses return to streets | London Marathon | The Guardian
But difficulties of supply and transport are having impacts on many people, especially the most vulnerable: Food banks warn of smaller parcels due to HGV supply shortages | Food banks | The Guardian
Black History Month: noting that Black people are underrepresented in the Blue Plaque scheme: There are signs that corrective trends are evident: Only 2% of blue plaques in London commemorate black people | Race | The Guardian
A handwritten original of Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath includes emotional language and other revelations Handwritten manuscript of The Grapes of Wrath to be published for the first time | Books | The Guardian
Sketches for The Potato Eaters increase our appreciation of the work: Unseen Van Gogh sketches that rework scorned masterpiece to go on display | Vincent van Gogh | The Guardian
It is encouraging to learn that a significant synagogue has won a battle against a proposed building development which would have dwarfed it and taken its light – But there are more threats of a similar ilk Historic synagogue wins first round of City planning battle | Heritage | The Guardian
Dreadful to learn of misuse of trust and position by churches in France: French Catholic church expresses ‘shame’ after report finds 330,000 children were abused | France | The Guardian
Some universities are called to task for turning a blind eye to poor handwriting, spelling and grammar. At least one letter writer would let them off: Universities in England ‘failing to mark down students’ for poor writing skills | Office for Students | The Guardian
Best News:
Poohsticks Bridge is back home: Winnie-the-Pooh Poohsticks bridge sold for £131k to Sussex landowner | AA Milne | The Guardian
Older women in China are taking to the streets to dance: China’s noisy ‘dancing grannies’ silenced by device that disables speakers | China | The Guardian
David Jolley
