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The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA United Kingdom Telephone 020 3633 4633 Email editor@newhumanist.org.uk Website newhumanist.org.uk EDITORIAL Editor Niki Seth-Smith Deputy Editor Jessica Abrahams Associate Editor Sally Feldman Contributing Editors Kenan Malik, Alom Shaha, Jonathan Rée Poetry Editor Fiona Sampson Art Director Emily Foster Copy Editor Daniel Trilling Proofreader Tony Russell SUBSCRIPTIONS New Humanist Subscriptions, The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA Email subs@newhumanist.org.uk Telephone 020 3633 4633 Advertising editor@newhumanist.org.uk Distribution InterMedia, 01293 312001 PUBLISHED BY The Rationalist Association Registered charity No 1096577, a company limited by guarantee No 4118489 The Rationalist Association is a charity promoting rational inquiry and debate based on evidence rather than belief. President Laurie Taylor Trustees Clive Coen (Chair), Colin Brewer, John Emanuel, Rosemary Emanuel, Keiron McCabe Honorary associates David Aaronovitch, Peter Atkins, Lord Birt, Colin Campbell, Philip Campbell, Noam Chomsky, Helena Cronin, David Cunningham, Richard Dawkins, Sanal Edamaruku, Ekow Eshun, Sally Feldman, A. C. Grayling, Tony Harrison, Simon Heffer, Ted Honderich, Robin Ince, Steve Jones, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Stewart Lee, Kenan Malik, Jonathan Meades, John Metcalf, Edwin Mullins, Alice Onwordi, Philip Pullman, Jonathan Rée, Marcus du Sautoy, Stephen Sedley, Amartya Sen, Alom Shaha, Simon Singh, Ralph Steadman, DJ Stewart, Ian Stewart, Jonathan Stopes-Roe, Raymond Tallis, Hazhir Teimourian, Claire Tomalin, Francis Wheen, Elizabeth Wilson, Richard Wiseman, Tess Woodcraft New Humanist | Autumn 2024 Editor’s Note We’ve hit the reset button, but what now? I JA K U Z N E C OVA J EVG E N The election wasn’t even declared in spring, and already we’re settling into life under a new government (to the bafflement of some weary denizens of the US). Whatever your politics, this is a time to reflect on where the country is, and where we’d like to be. That’s why in this edition we’ve fo- cused on some of the deep trends shaping British life today, and what challenges might be faced from a humanist perspective. Cherry Casey, on page 30, reports on the problem of discipline in England’s schools, while Pavan Amara (page 18), a journalist and former midwife, speaks to NHS staff about the so-called “toxic culture” in the health service. What’s behind the crisis of compassion, and what can be done? There are lessons to be learned from the past, and we talk to director Ken Loach (page 6) about capturing half a century of working people’s lives on film. We also catch up with writer and campaigner Natasha Walter (page 26). She is concerned about the new government’s asylum policy and argues for more boldness in supporting women fleeing oppressive religious authorities. It’s a time of political flux, and Peter Salmon (page 34) takes a philosophical look at the recent wave of defectors. Maybe “party traitors” aren’t so repulsive after all. Aside from reflecting on British culture, there’s much to enjoy in these pages. Astronomer Briley Lewis is delighted by the new Apollo 11 romcom Fly Me to the Moon (page 60), while Jessa Crispin has an intriguing theory on the cult-like success of Taylor Swift (page 48). “Swifties” are often accused of acting like hysterical teenagers, but Dan McCarthy writes in defence of the “kidult” trend – indulging in childlike pursuits as an adult can have surprising benefits (page 56). Richard Herring probably agrees. He chats to us about how he used humour to cope with a diagnosis: cancer of the testicle (page 52). It’s not only our country that is experiencing great change. Jody García writes from Guatemala on the new president’s attempt to crack down on corruption, while Jody Ray follows the trail of the malaria vaccines being rolled out across Africa. We also report on promising developments in the case of jailed Nigerian humanist Mubarak Bala (page 12). There is much to look forward to. For now, we hope you enjoy this edition – whether you’re old beyond your years or a child at heart. l Niki Seth-Smith 3

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The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA United Kingdom Telephone 020 3633 4633 Email editor@newhumanist.org.uk Website newhumanist.org.uk

EDITORIAL Editor Niki Seth-Smith Deputy Editor Jessica Abrahams Associate Editor Sally Feldman Contributing Editors Kenan Malik, Alom Shaha, Jonathan Rée Poetry Editor Fiona Sampson Art Director Emily Foster Copy Editor Daniel Trilling Proofreader Tony Russell

SUBSCRIPTIONS New Humanist Subscriptions, The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA Email subs@newhumanist.org.uk Telephone 020 3633 4633 Advertising editor@newhumanist.org.uk Distribution InterMedia, 01293 312001

PUBLISHED BY

The Rationalist Association Registered charity No 1096577, a company limited by guarantee No 4118489 The Rationalist Association is a charity promoting rational inquiry and debate based on evidence rather than belief. President Laurie Taylor Trustees Clive Coen (Chair), Colin Brewer, John Emanuel, Rosemary Emanuel, Keiron McCabe Honorary associates David Aaronovitch, Peter Atkins, Lord Birt, Colin Campbell, Philip Campbell, Noam Chomsky, Helena Cronin, David Cunningham, Richard Dawkins, Sanal Edamaruku, Ekow Eshun, Sally Feldman, A. C. Grayling, Tony Harrison, Simon Heffer, Ted Honderich, Robin Ince, Steve Jones, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Stewart Lee, Kenan Malik, Jonathan Meades, John Metcalf, Edwin Mullins, Alice Onwordi, Philip Pullman, Jonathan Rée, Marcus du Sautoy, Stephen Sedley, Amartya Sen, Alom Shaha, Simon Singh, Ralph Steadman, DJ Stewart, Ian Stewart, Jonathan Stopes-Roe, Raymond Tallis, Hazhir Teimourian, Claire Tomalin, Francis Wheen, Elizabeth Wilson, Richard Wiseman, Tess Woodcraft

New Humanist | Autumn 2024

Editor’s Note

We’ve hit the reset button, but what now?

I JA K U Z N E C OVA

J EVG E N

The election wasn’t even declared in spring, and already we’re settling into life under a new government (to the bafflement of some weary denizens of the US). Whatever your politics, this is a time to reflect on where the country is, and where we’d like to be.

That’s why in this edition we’ve fo-

cused on some of the deep trends shaping British life today, and what challenges might be faced from a humanist perspective. Cherry Casey, on page 30, reports on the problem of discipline in England’s schools, while Pavan Amara (page 18), a journalist and former midwife, speaks to NHS staff about the so-called “toxic culture” in the health service. What’s behind the crisis of compassion, and what can be done?

There are lessons to be learned from the past, and we talk to director Ken Loach (page 6) about capturing half a century of working people’s lives on film. We also catch up with writer and campaigner Natasha Walter (page 26). She is concerned about the new government’s asylum policy and argues for more boldness in supporting women fleeing oppressive religious authorities. It’s a time of political flux, and Peter Salmon (page 34) takes a philosophical look at the recent wave of defectors. Maybe “party traitors” aren’t so repulsive after all.

Aside from reflecting on British culture, there’s much to enjoy in these pages. Astronomer Briley Lewis is delighted by the new Apollo 11 romcom Fly Me to the Moon (page 60), while Jessa Crispin has an intriguing theory on the cult-like success of Taylor Swift (page 48). “Swifties” are often accused of acting like hysterical teenagers, but Dan McCarthy writes in defence of the “kidult” trend – indulging in childlike pursuits as an adult can have surprising benefits (page 56). Richard Herring probably agrees. He chats to us about how he used humour to cope with a diagnosis: cancer of the testicle (page 52).

It’s not only our country that is experiencing great change. Jody García writes from Guatemala on the new president’s attempt to crack down on corruption, while Jody Ray follows the trail of the malaria vaccines being rolled out across Africa. We also report on promising developments in the case of jailed Nigerian humanist Mubarak Bala (page 12). There is much to look forward to. For now, we hope you enjoy this edition – whether you’re old beyond your years or a child at heart. l Niki Seth-Smith

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