No. 40: The double-edged sword of politics
Filibusters are pretty complicated, but so is convincing people sustainable cities aren't restrictive hellscapes.
Hi, happy issue 40 and March! As usual, I am encouraging you to suggest some topics, because sometimes I can’t think of any, but mostly, I want to know what you’re interested in!!
15-minute cities turned conspiracy theories
A short reminder that critical opinions should be drawn from research, and not weird irrelevant conspiracy theories!!
The idea of a 15-minute city, everything being within a 15-minute walk or bus ride, is a freeing, independent ideal of living. Thanks to social media, however, it’s been distorted as a restrictive municipality limiting residents on where they can go. Or at least, that’s what conservatives believe.
From CNN,
The aim is to make cities more livable and connected, with less private car use – meaning cleaner air, greener streets and lower levels of planet-heating pollution. Around a fifth of the world’s human-caused, planet-warming pollution comes from transportation, and passenger cars make up more than 40% of this.
Ottawa, Melbourne, Paris, Barcelona, Portland (OR), and more, have all tried variations of this, although none have been enacted on a large state or country-wide scale.
However, it’s a sustainable city planning strategy that has raised such rumors, partly due to a U.K. plan; traffic filtering in Oxford. The idea, of reducing traffic levels during peak travel times by time restrictions and permits, has led to death threats aimed at local politician Duncan Enright, who has merely expressed his involvement in its proposal. (CNN)
I personally, find this plan really intriguing, and am curious about its results if implemented! But seriously, conspiracy theorists need to do a simple Google search (btw use Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees!!) before making such outright, damaging claims.
Info on filibusters💥
If you’re reading this on mobile, the finger and emoji don’t match 😭
I wasn’t planning on discussing this in this week’s issue, but a Parks and Rec episode (a great show about government, highly recommend) inspired me to do so. This accidental tactic has been used in both regressive and progressive tendencies, and many believe it to be an outdated system which should no longer exist.
Simply described by NPR as “a senator or group of senators exercising their right to unlimited debate,” this practice has been used for decades to stagnate Senate progress. Any tactics may be used to prevent a bill/measure from being voted on, as there are no clear rules. Even mere threats of filibustering can delay progress. All it takes is the support of at least 60 senators, a bill can be deemed “filibuster-proof,” a difficult feat today. (CNN)
Historically, it was used by Southern Democrats to maintain segregation until 1964, “when a coalition of Republicans and Democrats from outside the South mustered the two-thirds majority needed to break it. That made possible the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965” (NPR). In more recent years, it has been utilized against many of Obama’s bills but has been used positively by one individual, Nebraska State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who has been consistently filibustering against many GOP bills, like LB574, which would make gender-affirming care for transgender children illegal (NBC 6 News Omaha).
While I personally think it probably shouldn’t have been introduced in the first place, it’s a double-edged sword that has helped and hurt, and it’s hard to say what the “right choice” is.
Further reading:
The Fake History of the Filibuster Won’t Die (New York Magazine)
Check out…
Opinion: One surprising source of hope for climate change? Fiction (LA Times)
10 of the best climate change documentaries to see in 2023 (Yale Climate Connections)
Can Artificial Intelligence Help Cool the Planet? (The Nation)
Biden set for first veto on Senate bill opposing climate-friendly investing (Washington Post)
Fossil fuel companies donated $700m to US universities over 10 years (The Guardian)
Wrap-up/Willow Project reminder
Hope you found this issue helpful, and btw, how are we all feeling about the Willow Project?! The fact that 2.5 million people have signed petitions opposing this oil project and yet Biden has done nothing… Very troubling yet unsurprising if you ask me.
Further reading:
#StopWillow is taking TikTok by storm. Can it actually work? (CNN)
I lived a “15 minute” lifestyle in east London for several years. Work was a 7 min cycle away. Shops a 5 min walk to 10 min cycle. Health was online, and at worst a 30 min train ride for the rare test. Community and friends all within a 15 min cycle. I love it. The only thing that felt missing was access to nature other than city parks.
Possible topic suggestion: I needed a new pair of school shoes and I picked up some adidas. They just happed to have a box that says “End Plastic Waste” - I can tell the insoles are made differently (they’re all speckled and such) but I’m not sure what is really different?
I’ve seen a few different shoe companies claim to improve their earth-friendliness, and I’m curious just how different these shoes are 🤔