[Excerpted from the article]
Nad’a Kovalcikova (Program Manager, Alliance for Securing Democracy – Brussels)
The Harvard Gazette: Battling the ‘pandemic of misinformation’
Crises are times of uncertainty, insecurity, and confusion which can get exploited. Therefore, it is not surprising that the coronavirus pandemic is accompanied by an extensive amount of information which can and does get manipulated. The author of the article highlights several recommendations to address such ‘pandemic of misinformation.’ I find one of them particularly interesting: a need for “a little more intellectual humility” which would help avoid cognitive biases. Many of them “get in the way of even the best truth-seeking strategies” especially in this time of “such great uncertainty.” Connecting knowledge across borders, generations, and political spectrums is critical for stronger social resilience to manipulated information.
The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood
We often say, do not judge a book by its cover. But this time I did, in a good way. This story starts with powerful cover images, symbolizing how oppression of some and freedom of the others are never too far apart. This sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, placed in the future, is a chilling interpretation of moral compromises, vulnerability of acquired (women) rights in times of crisis, and the power of collaboration, hope and perseverance. The Testaments reveal the struggles of three women who fight for a better future for all when history repeats, and it often does, or it rhymes.