Has Greta Thunberg finally become the rebellious icon Gen Z needs?
Meanwhile, Thunberg, who has always been a slightly more divisive character, is emerging like a phoenix from the ashes of her climate change battle. She's older, a little cooler, and fighting a more tangible fight. In no way is she abandoning ship — she has merely rallied a fleet. And in doing so, she's becoming the exact kind of icon that Gen Z needs.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Reading to children should be a pleasure
I was saddened to learn that gen Z parents don't read to their children because they don't have time, dislike having to read the same book over and over, don't enjoy reading books themselves or find it boring (2 June). It was one of my great joys to read to my daughter, though granted, there were no smartphones vying for her attention in the early McGovernEdinburgh 'I just don't have the energy to read to my kid' – what rubbish. If you don't have the energy to sit on the sofa next to your child and share a storybook together, what on earth did you have children for?Helen CluttonBristol Surely the reason men feel the need to claim the home office is that, given their known inabilities to multitask and adapt to new situations, they would achieve nothing if they were not sealed into their habitual working environment (Letters, 4 June). Women, on the other hand, just add doing the day job to the CowperSwansea If only Rachel Reeves shared Bernie Sanders' vision: 'We're going to take on the billionaire class. They're going to start paying their fair share of taxes' ('Saying Trump is dangerous is not enough': Bernie Sanders on Biden, billionaires – and why the Democrats failed, 4 June). Instead, austerity continues and the rich get ByrneLetchworth, Hertfordshire The wedding gift letters (3 June) remind me of an engagement present I received from my soon to be mother-in-law – a cookery book entitled Can She Cook? I WaltersBuxton, Derbyshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Spectator
3 hours ago
- Spectator
Nigel wants YOU, secularism vs spirituality & how novel is experimental fiction?
How Reform plans to win Just a year ago, Nigel Farage ended his self-imposed exile from politics and returned to lead Reform. Since then, Reform have won more MPs than the Green Party, two new mayoralties, a parliamentary by-election, and numerous councils. Now the party leads in every poll and, as our deputy political editor James Heale reveals in our cover article, is already planning for government. The party's chair, tech entrepreneur Zia Yusuf, describes the movement as a 'start-up'; and like a start-up, Reform is scaling up at speed. Among the 676 councillors elected last month, a number are considered more than ready to stand as MPs. James also interviewed Reform's deputy leader, the MP Richard Tice, who said that the Reform movement cannot be thought of within the traditional left-right political spectrum. James joined the podcast to discuss further; you can also hear an extract from his interview with Richard. (1:01) Next: are young people turning to religion? A recent survey by the UK's Bible Society has found that over the past six years, Church attendance has risen by 50 per cent. There are signs that this is being driven by younger people – why are Gen Z turning to religion? A new book by Lamorna Ash, Don't Forget We're Here Forever: A New Generation's Search For Religion, seeks to answer this question and is reviewed in the magazine this week by Rupert Shortt. To unpack this potential Church revival, Rupert – the author of The Eclipse of Christianity and Why It Matters – joined the podcast, alongside Georgia Clarke, director of youth ministry at St Elizabeth of Portugal Roman Catholic Church in London. (21:25) And finally: is experimental fiction truly novel? Philip Hensher writes in the magazine this week about the modern trend of 'experimental literature'. For Philip, not only do these novels have incredibly rigid rules, but they are far from 'experimental' as he feels many of their components aren't truly new. To discuss further, Philip – who has been writing his own history of the novel – joined the podcast, alongside Simon Okotie. Simon, author of The Future of the Novel, is also a judge for the Goldsmiths Prize, which awards a novel which 'breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form'. (33:11) Plus: extracts from Tanya Gold's article on selling bathwater (17:54) and Madeline Grant's on the decline of period dramas (19:35). Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Interactive tool reveals the BEST summer festival on a budget near you – what's happening in your region?
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