Caroline Lucas is a member of the Green Party of England and Wales and the author of the recently published Honourable Friends? She shares five things she’s reading, watching and thinking about right now.
1. Brighton’s Festival and Fringe, and the Charleston Festival
May is the best month, combining two of the events I love most. Highlights included sharing a platform with Anita Anand as she spoke about her new book, Sophia, on the extraordinary life of an Indian suffragette,and seeing Hollie McNish performing some of her most compelling poetry. Hearing her reading Mathematics ought to be obligatory for all Tory ministers (final line: ‘And most times immigrants bring more than minuses’).
2. We Are Many
My son read about the film on Facebook, so we went down to the local independent cinema to join the mass screenings of Amir Amirani’s documentary about the 2003 Stop the War marches. Incredibly moving to see people’s mobilisations spreading across the world. But still so shocking to remember the lies politicians have got away with – and meanwhile we still wait for the Chilcot report . . .
3. H Is for Hawk
Reluctantly reaching the end of Helen Macdonald’s beautiful book – a mesmerising combination of spiritual journey and captivating nature writing.
4. Regina Spektor
With the election campaign over, it’s back to the regular commutes up to London while parliament is sitting – an experience that is turned into pleasure by listening to Regina Spektor. I could listen to her every day – and generally do.
5. The People’s Republic of Brighton and Hove
Avidly following the creation on Facebook of the People’s Republic of Brighton and Hove, complete with passport and flag – surely an entirely rational response to waking up on 8 May to discover that Brighton and Hove are two little islands of green and red respectively in a sea of blue across the whole of Sussex and Kent. There have allegedly been applications for asylum from neighbouring Tory Kemptown, while Lewes has formally requested an invasion. Tories, however, will not be deported but instead welcomed, on the basis that, I quote, ‘We need to understand their mindset and convert them.’ Indeed.
Photo © Project-128, Birds of a Feather, 2014
