Contents Autumn 2021

REGULARS

p. 3 Editor’s Note p. 6 The Q&A Jonathan Franzen p. 10 Witness Compiled by our team p. 71 Crossword Set by Chaliapin p. 73 Quiz Set by Chris Maslanka

COLUMNS

p. 8 Soapbox Why we need statues By Samira Ahmed p. 16 Cosmos Robots on Mars By Marcus Chown p. 70 In a word "Cancel" By Michael Rosen p. 74 Endgame An index of ageing By Laurie Taylor

FEATURES

p. 18 Education The case for free speech in

Alice Bell on the history of the climate crisis, p.26

“The meaning of sacred texts and profane cartoons is open to interpretation" Emma Park, page 18

the classroom By Emma Park p. 22 Psychology Electroconvulsive therapy has a bad reputation. Is it time for a rethink? By Alex Riley p. 26 Climate The long history of links between colonialism and climate change By Alice Bell p. 30 Reportage Is the tide turning on assisted dying? By Jem Bartholomew p. 34 History At 50, Bangladesh is still fighting extremism By Joseph Allchin

4

p. 38 Society The unintended consequences of banning sex workers from advertising online By Ray Filar p. 42 Cover story Why women need more control over their birthing choices By Zoe Holman

CULTURE

p. 48 Film What Cruella tells us about the nostalgia-industrial

A L A M Y ST O C K P HO T O

New Humanist | Autumn 2021