Julian Sayarer's post at thisisnotforcharity.com in support of openDemocracy

A citizen journalist interrogates the privatisation of National Savings & Investments (NS&I), where Atos have taken over the contract and services have, perhaps predictably, contracted.

Occupy has spotlighted the super-elite, but the ‘average Brit’ that is pitted against this class does not exist. For the struggle to empower all citizens to succeed in Britain, mapping actual wealth distribution is critical. 

In the frantic search to find an agreed name for emerging forms of collective agency, ‘the nation’ is frequently presented as an outdated inconvenience. This hasty generalisation fails to acknowledge the term’s continuing role in propping-up ‘invisible’ forms of state domination and, more importantly, its potential function as part of a critical biopolitics.   

Plans to teach a ‘coherent and chronological’ account of UK history may seem appropriate for English schools. But the loser is global and regional history, increasingly relevant for today’s multicultural student population.

The Howard League for Penal Reform launches this year’s John Howard Essay Prize on OurKingdom. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 15 MARCH

The chair of the English Arts Council for the last four years was removed by the Coalition. In her valedictory speech she sets out her case for the arts over the millenia and makes a moving appeal to the Secretary of State for Education.