papered in

Ten years ago the EU was still called the EC. When it was first mooted that the UK may leave, a Berliner acquaintance was shocked to learn that I had just heard. “You don’t read newspapers?”

‘Oh, well. I like cartoons. The weekend magazine sometimes, in cafes. I read the arts section.’ “But how do you… know what’s going on?”

Filled with frustration I turned my head to look out the window. ‘Look out that window. This is supposed to be spring. But we had hail today and it’s flooding in Zurich. I feel like, you know — my daily life is more in tune with the bigger picture… than are the habits of most of the people who tell me I’m stupid for not reading newspapers.’

To make this sweeping-it-under-the-carpet statement I had to ignore my recent, colossal, ozone-stripping consumption of jet fuel: among other things. It’s a total lie. But maybe, if we all stopped clogging ourselves with updates and detail, we might all be a lot more focused on the bigger crises: like what’s going on with our air and water and with our climate. Like pesticides and the future of food. I mean: read the newspapers if you want to. But for goodness’ sake don’t let it distract you from current events.