We may not be using the correct language when dealing with societal problems like climate change. Dr. Jonathan Rowson suggests that using the pronoun “We” does little to band people together when trying to solve pressing global issues mainly due to its “unreflective” nature. When we use “We” to lump everyone together, he states, we often ignore the “varying perceptions, competing interests, and power dynamics” within the collective, which makes it difficult to determine what we need to do to actually solve said issues. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
