February | 2021 | Novara Media

International: Separatists Finally Have a Majority in Catalonia – But Independence Isn’t a Done Deal

Eoghan Gilmartin & Tommy Greene

Pro-independence parties finally achieved a majority of the popular vote in Catalonia on Sunday. But low turnout and a boost for both the unionist and independentist centre-left mean the next chapter in Catalonia's constitutional politics is going to involve negotiation, write Tommy Greene and Eoghan Gilmartin.

Opinion: Don’t Trust the Rightwing Press – Their ‘Green Revolution’ is Just Eco-Nationalism

Sam Knights

Last week, the Daily Express broke with decades of denial and called for a “green revolution” to tackle the climate crisis. But the rightwing media's sudden interest in climate change isn't to be celebrated, argues Sam Knights - it's a terrifying indicator of things to come.

Analysis: Rojava is Trying to Build a Green Society, But Turkey is Starving It of Water and Power

Despite the immense gains made by Rojava's revolutionary project over the last eight years, it is lagging behind on ecological measures. To understand why, Matt Broomfield traces the delicate balance of geopolitical power in the region.

Novara Live: When Should Lockdown End?

Does the successful vaccine rollout mean lockdown restrictions should be lifted?

Long Read: Whatever Happened to the UK Youth Climate Strikes?

Clare Hymer

Two years ago, young people across the UK walked out of school in the first of a wave of 'climate strikes'. But despite its rapid and extraordinary growth, the youth strike movement's future was in jeopardy even prior to the pandemic. Clare Hymer reports.

ACFM: #ACFM Trip 14: Desire

The #ACFM gang explore the political power of desire, from the storming of the Capitol to the Corbyn cult.

Report: ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: Why Banning Sex Is Bad Public Health Policy

Sophie K Rosa

For most of the last year, it's been illegal to have sex with someone unless you live with them under UK coronavirus rules. But the government’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach to pandemic sex is no way to minimise risk. Sophie K Rosa reports.

Novara Live: Fired From the Guardian

The Guardian is supposed to be Britain’s leading liberal newspaper. However, its US arm this week fired a columnist for tweeting a joke about Israel. We speak to the journalist in question, Nathan J Robinson With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial.

Analysis: No, Benefit Claimants Still Aren’t Exploiting the System

Josh Gabert-Doyon

The digitisation of Universal Credit is reinforcing old prejudices about benefit fraud, fuelling a new moral panic. Josh Gabert Doyon explains what's actually going on.

Opinion: Labour Only Has One Route to Power – And It Can’t Take ‘Generation Left’ for Granted

Aaron Bastani

The answer to Labour’s problems in the polls isn’t to double down on attacking the left within the party, or admonishing the Greens or even the Lib Dems. It’s to set out an electoral offer that will appeal to ‘generation left’ in 2024 - and to do it now, argues Aaron Bastani.

Novara Live: Jail Time for Travel Breaches

Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss the health secretary's announcement of 10 year-jail sentences for breaching Covid travel restrictions.

ACFM: #ACFM Microdose: Tabitha Bast on Dating and Desire

Do dating apps leave us unprepared for offline love? Nadia Idle talks to psychosexual therapist Tabitha Bast about the politics of desire.

Report: Paranoid Bosses Are Spying on Workers During the Pandemic

Rivkah Brown

As home working has increased during the pandemic, so has worker surveillance. Rivkah Brown reports on the growing number of bosses now spying on their employees.

Downstream: Can Capitalism Solve Its Crises? Interview With Mariana Mazzucato

What can the Apollo Missions teach us about dealing with the major crises of the 21st century? And why are politicians so eager to dwell on caricatures of the public rather than engage in problem-solving – from climate change to housing and education? Aaron Bastani speaks to author and academic Mariana Mazzucato to find out.

Opinion: Does Labour Have a Future in Scotland?

Rory Maclean

In the 2019 general election, Labour won just over 18% of the vote in Scotland - its lowest vote-share since its formation as a party. Ahead of its upcoming leadership election, Rory Maclean takes a look at what Scottish Labour must do to make sure it survives.

Opinion: Labour and the Tories Have Reduced Veterans to Instruments in the Culture War

Joe Glenton

Veterans like Joe Glenton are often instrumentalised by culture war politicians. Labour's provisional new PR strategy and the death of Captain Tom have made this clearer than ever.

Novara Live: The Oxford Vaccine Setback

The Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine is already being rolled out in the UK, and is the most ordered jab in the developing world. However, this weekend results from trials showed the vaccine is ineffective against the South African strain of the virus. How big a blow is this news to the global fight against coronavirus? We […]

Opinion: Covid-19 Has Shown Humanity’s Vulnerability. It’s Time to Take Existential Risks Seriously