Reflections 21st June

Between Gradually and Suddenly

Last week I wrote about agency:

“the capacity to act on the world such that the world registers the act, and the feedback comes back to you.”

The action begins with you, and the difference it makes can be traced to you. I want to hold that theme for this post, because an email arrived on Monday that put flesh on the argument in a way I had not quite anticipated.

Parliament is to debate its support for the ceramics industry on 6 July.

It will probably be a short debate.

✦

Since the pandemic, the doors have closed at Wade Ceramics, Johnsons Tiles, Royal Stafford, Heraldic Pottery, and most recently Denby Pottery. Moorcroft was bought by the founder’s grandson; the gesture matters, but the general direction of travel does not change. Wedgwood and Portmeirion are teetering. The skills of those who made the goods, and the ethics of the founders who created them, are not available for recycling. Parliament will express regret, then it will probably move on to something more politically exciting.

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