The Geek Manifesto Pledge

Below is an open letter I've written to Ms Kate Green, Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston. I signed a pledge, backed by the likes of author and occasional Uncaged Monkey Simon Singh, to send a copy of Mark Henderson's The Geek Manifesto to each and every MP.

There are far more eloquent letters that have accompanied copies of The Geek Manifesto to various MPs, such as this one from psychologist and neuroscientist Chris Chambers, but I'm excited to be a small part of this movement! I will admit, this is the first time I've ever written to an MP (I know, I know!) and a cynical part of me wonders if Kate Green will even read my letter let alone the book! But I suppose its a great cause to cut your teeth on. And I'm intrigued as to what the reception and outcome will be... So, here we go:

OPEN LETTER TO MP KATE GREEN:

Dear Ms Kate Green,

Re: Mark Henderson’s ‘Geek Manifesto’ and why science matters in politics

Firstly, thank you for your time. I do hope you have received a copy I sent you of Mark Henderson’s The Geek Manifesto in the post by the end of Wednesday 4^th July 2012.

Hundreds of voters really want you to read this book! So I pledged to purchase and send a copy of this book to a Member of Parliament as part of a movement to try and encourage MPs to take into account scientific reasoning and results when considering relevant legislation e.g. dealing with issues such as healthcare, climate change, nuclear power, GM crops etc.

The Geek Manifesto’s author, Mark Henderson, is Head of Communications at the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable organisation that focuses on many aspects around biomedical sciences and humanities. As stated in the book, it is often journos, accountants, lawyers etc. who are making decisions on very important issues, and yet with NO scientific knowledge at all. I read Physics at the University of Manchester and went on to study a History of Science Masters’ Degree, which involved heavily the work and support of the Wellcome Trust. As such, I am passionate about educating others as to the importance of scientific reasoning and am excited to have the opportunity to contact you with regards to Mark Henderson’s book.

Living in an apparently advanced society as we do, it seems short sighted, naïve and frankly dangerous to neglect employing the scientific method when policy making. It seems ludicrous that scientific expertise is rejected or that advice is strategically omitted at some of the highest levels of decision making in this country.

The idea for sending this book, The Geek Manifesto, came from blogger Dave Watts, who wrote:

    I was reading the Geek Manifesto and I thought “every one of our MPs should be reading this” then I thought, in the spirit of the book, “OK, let’s make it happen” so…

    What I want you to do is pledge to buy one copy of the book.

    Once we have 650 pledges we can buy the books, then I will find a way of delivering them to the House of Commons.

The publishers of The Geek Manifesto have kindly agreed to match every pledge, thus aiding the pledge and allowing all 650 MPs to have a copy of the book once 325 pledges signed – and I am one of them. As this is a collective movement, pledges are sending copies to MPs across the board and to ensure that each MP receives a copy.

Although I now live in London, I lived, studied and worked in Manchester for over 9 years. And, I more recently worked at the new MediaCityUK development in Salford Quays. This is why I have chosen to send a copy of The Geek Manifesto to you, as MP for Stretford and Urmston. I’ve seen first-hand the exciting developments and progression taking place in the UK at Salford Quays, close to your constituency – embracing new technology and reasserting the UK as a leader in our field, with technological and academic innovation and excellence. Let us not fail ourselves and future generations by dangerously committing ourselves to making hugely important decisions based on inadequate counsel – and this argument is valid across all industries and departments, but none particularly more pressing that in scientific technologies and affected industries.

I will also be emailing my current MP, Mr Chuka Umunna, for Streatham, who has received a copy from another pledger.

For more information about The Geek Manifesto, please go to this website:

http://geekmanifesto.wordpress.com/about/

Thank you again for your time and I very much look forward to hearing you and your colleagues’ thoughts on The Geek Manifesto. Happy reading!

Kind regards,

Briony Gunson

How to be a Grown Up Woman - A Ferrifrump Discourse

It's a Thursday night before the "Jub-lee" Bank Holiday where Britain pays homage to Queenie in her 60th Reigning (Raining) Year. My thoughts are headlong into the impending debauchery of the oncoming weekend. I don't think I'm alone here when I say that bank holidays for me have come to represent extended periods in the pub, where time is spent rambling passionately (and depending on rum levels, likely incoherently) amongst good friends (or that new weird guy who I just met at the bar).

The definition between being exquisitely hung-over and nicely tipsy is muddled by day-on-day drinking.  By weekend's finish, I’ll likely have some new drunken, embarrassing stories to add to my repertoire and, with a heavy liver and a significantly lighter wallet, I'll utter those famous and long betrayed words:  Never Again. I'll promise to myself that I *will* do something more wholesome (and try not to join the 27 Club). Perhaps I’ll go camping and hiking in the Lake District, or at least do the gardening whilst drinking Jasmine tea and listening to Radio 4. Yes, I do the gardening whilst wearing a floppy straw hat and a twee summer dress. Fantasies aside, I still feel like I'm practicing "being a grown up" (whatever that means). As such, I don't feel I'm quite old (or middle class) enough to be able to mix Radio 4 with gardening *just* yet.

However, when my impending debauchery partner, Lydia, texts to ask what I'm doing on Thursday night, I pull back my thoughts from the inevitably decrepit corners of the ensuing weekend and merrily declare "Nada."

"Would you like to go and see Caitlin Moran interview Jennifer Saunders for the BBC?"

Mouth open, eyes wide; I reply: "YES!"

Author and self-described “woman, yes, but still funny” Caitlin Moran is interviewing Jennifer Saunders for Radio 4's series Chain Reaction. Lydia, being the splendid girl that she is, a) has tickets, b) has a spare, and c) is kind enough to ask me. Huzzah! Lydia, like any half-witted person (Lydia has much wit I should say - I'd say she almost has 3/2 wit!) is a big French & Saunders fan. But she was also dead excited as she's a big fan of Moran and has recently read How To Be A Woman. As a result of Lydia reading this, there have been many animated conversations down the pub as to the preferred nomenclature when referring to a...well, lady garden/va-jay-jay/cunt/vagina/lady bits/axe wound (delete and/or screw up face in disapproval, as appropriate). I had recently bought a (male) friend a copy of How To Be A Woman as a gift but with the strict instructions that he must report back to me with his findings. Post haste!

As for me, I've grown up on a diet of Blackadder, Monty Python and French & Saunders with lashings of Ab Fab, so I'm delighted at the thought of seeing, in the flesh, a hugely influential woman whom I and my sisters idolise. And the evening ended up providing more than just sheer entertainment in the end. Listening to Ms. Saunders (as Caitlin referred to her, and I will do so hereon in - never call her 'Jen', though. Never 'Jen'), I was left pondering some home truths about comedy, feminism, alcohol and friendship.

Both women are quick witted and the exchanges are warmly received by the audience. I sympathised with Ms. Saunders as she recalls her time moving around schools as a Forces child (I myself went to five different schools growing up - my parents were just hippies and like to move around). And I bit my lip with anticipation when Caitlin asked Ms. Saunders if she was a feminist. I've been having many conversations recently (with myself and with others!) about the definition of feminism and of society's associations and incarnations of feminism. I think of myself as a feminist but have been confused and at times dismayed how the definition of feminism sometimes seems to involve a myriad of conflicting or awkward political and ideological hues. Perhaps I'm not sophisticated enough to distinguish the different shades with precision!

But surely Jen, sorry, Ms. Saunders, would be able to set me straight on the definition of feminism? She's caught off guard, and Caitlin waits anxiously to hear the answer. Ms. Saunders isn't sure of a definition. Exactly my troubles, Jen. *Exactly*. We establish that, as a general rule, it's about equality and move gracefully on.

There's talk of Bananarama and French & Saunders partying the night away and providing much inspiration for recreating scenes involving falling out of taxis when pissed (apparently some Bananas can drink more vodka than others). This pleases me greatly as Bananarama was the first cassette tape I ever bought (yes, kids - cassettes). Being as Ab Fab and Bananarama were two major protagonists in the 90s for me, my watching endless episodes of Ab Fab and listening to Bananarama now takes on a lot more depth and meaning.

Saunders recalls her worst professional experience - the hellish nightmare of working with a heavily neuortic and pregnant Roseanne. And of her intimidation when singing in Shrek 2 (we are yet to establish the existence of small, plastic evil Saunders). Saunders then speaks of her sadness that the London’s BBC Television Centre may be knocked down. As I have worked at MediaCity in Salford, I had (perhaps naively) thought the controversy was borne from the inconvenience of the move and scepticism of "The North". I hadn't considered the strong element of nostalgia and the mourning she and so many others would feel when the building ceases to be.

Nostalgia for the BBC moves to nostalgia for champagne soaked halcyon Ab Fab heydays. Saunders smiles and declares that it's all been a really excellent way to earn a living. She mentions being flown to New York "just to go to a party"; to go and be Patsy and Eddie for a night with all-you-can-drink champagne. Another seminal realisation hits me: it becomes clear to me the probable source of the almost crass obsession behind my sister and I's Bubbles addiction is from Ab Fab (Cava, Prosecco, Champagne, slightly off white wine = Bubbles).

But what, Moran asks, is the motivation behind her sterling, BAFTA, Emmy award winning comedy? Revenge? Power? Money? Saunders said French & Saunders started because they wanted to do it for themselves. And that, she concludes, is the best thing. To be in a room with a friend and just making each other howl and hurt with laughing so much. But she coyly admits that the fat cheque at the end is certainly a driving force.

Then, as with all good things, it's sadly at an end. And Lydia and I are grinning as we walk away, chatting excitedly about all that has been at the Radio 4 event. I'm thrilled at having seen Ms. Saunders and Ms. Moran but am also pleasantly surprised by all the food for thought and inspiration (hence this blog post).

Looking ahead to this bank holiday weekend and considering I'm still practicing "being a grown up", I say sod the gardening. I've done Radio 4 already. So I'll don the twee summer dress, head down to the pub, get some Bubbles and enjoy the resulting face and stomach cramps and possible cava/nose related mishaps from howling with laughter down the pub with my friends.  Cheers!

If you want to listen to the JOY that is this last series episode of Chain Reaction, apparently you'll have to wait until August (boo!). But Jennifer Saunders was asked if she would take up the torch and set alight the new series of Chain Reaction by interviewing another.... Will it be Dawn French? Bananarama?! Who knows! I'll be keeping a keen ear/eye on that and let you know.