Where the World Actually Burns
Wildfires make global headlines, but only in certain places - Portugal, The USA, Greece, or Canada are typical examples. The data tells a different story. Over half of the world’s burned area each year is in Africa - in some years, close to two-thirds. These fires shape the global average, yet they’re almost entirely absent from media coverage. If we’re to tackle this issue, we need to prioritise our efforts. Two overlooked stories reveal how misaligned our attention has become:
- Brazil’s deteriorating forest fire crisis under President Lula has escaped international scrutiny despite worsening conditions. For years fires in Brazil made headlines for political reasons, despite being around the average expected.
- Africa’s quiet progress over two decades offers a counternarrative of cautious optimism: a success story of steady improvement virtually unknown to global audiences. For perspective, the annual reduction in burned area in Africa compared to 20 years ago equals what North America experiences in five years of forest fires, eliminated every single year.
If we aim to address global wildfires, our resources and attention must align with where fires actually burn, not just where they make headlines.
!
The Case for Being Basic
Nadia Asparouhova writes about what it’s like to live inside the idea economy - where thinking is currency and everyone’s expected to have a take. “Being basic” becomes her coping mechanism, a conscious rejection of intellectual performance in favour of simplicity, quiet, even boredom. It’s a sharp, slow-burn essay that turns the culture of constant output on its head.
Cummings Unfiltered
The controversial but always interesting Dominic Cummings makes a rare long-form appearance on the Dwarkesh Podcast, ranging across broken government, civil service dysfunction, existential risks, and war gaming AI futures. From Taiwan and Russia to Bismarck and Lee Kuan Yew, it’s sharp, chaotic, and gripping.