Some weeks, the cover story for the Guardian Weekly is obvious. Not so this week.
With more calamity in London, and the usual chaos in Trumpian America, it was difficult to find an analytical piece beyond these stories that captured a theme of global interest. When I edit an edition I have Plan A and Plan B for the news lineup. For the edition now being printed on three continents, I opted for Plan C.
How fortunate, then, that Plan C was a rather good one! Julian Borger analyses how the door has opened to conflict with Iran. Alright, America is pivotal to the piece, I’ll grant you that. But in a region full of flashpoints, I found Borger’s consideration of the pulls and pressures that could result in dire international consequences both insightful and informative.
It was another tough week in Britain. A truly horrific fire in a high-rise block of flats in Kensington, which took place just hours after our last edition had gone offstone, left at least 79 people dead and hundreds homeless. For those affected this has been a heartbreaking event, though, as you’ll read, sorrow has turned to anger.
The fire in west London’s Grenfell Tower also has political repercussions. The prime minister, Theresa May, drew heavy criticism after visiting emergency responders and officials, but neither the victims nor the volunteers (London turned out with food, water, clothing, and many hands trying to make the load of helping lighter). Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile, reached out to listen and console. So did the London mayor, Sadiq Khan.
But the unsettling news didn’t stop there. We woke on Monday morning to word of a van attack on worshipping Muslims outside a mosque in north London, not far from Guardian Weekly HQ. One person died after the incident, and 11 were injured. The prime minister and mayor took to the streets again, with May declaring Islamophobia was a form of extremism, and one not to be tolerated in the UK. Troubled times indeed on British soil.
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It’s time to look at the lighter coverage, the pages that I often say restore the will to live.
Our Review opener considers the issue of public land use in America’s west, a complex and sometimes controversial matter that I knew nothing about. It’s nice to learn on the job! Discovery weighs up the strengths and weaknesses of women and men. Try and guess who comes out ahead.
Culture captures the latest works of potter Grayson Perry, who unashamedly plays the populist card with his new London show. And our Culture reviews roam wide, visiting Van Gogh in Melbourne and Hamlet at Glyndebourne.
When I first joined the Weekly, I didn’t really get Nature watch. Now I find it a much-needed offset to the woes of the world. This week’s, by Paul Evans in Wenlock Edge, is no exception. On our mind and relationships page, What I’m really thinking reflects the mindset of the eldest. My daughter (yes, firstborn) practically cheered when I shared this content with her. I understand that we’re all deeply engaged with the world. But sometimes it’s fine to enjoy a few diversions.
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