Forum - Sixty Second Idea to Improve the World

Forum - Sixty Second Idea to Improve the World

A radical, inspiring, controversial idea from a global thinker from the world of philosophy, science, psychology and arts.

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Recent episodes (3)

  • No more holey socks! Anat Admati 18 May 2013

    Sat, 18 May 13

    Duration:
    5 mins

    Available:
    28 days remaining

    Finance professor Anat Admati suggests that we re-design socks. They should be constructed to suit the individual’s pattern of toes. Some people’s feet go significantly down in size and length from big toe to little one, but most socks seem to have a straight toe line. Other people’s second toe is the longest. Maybe that’s why we often get holes at the big or second toe shortly after buying socks? So let’s end the ‘one-sock-fits-all’ mentality and embrace sock customisation!

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  • A Tax on Piped Music Diarmaid MacCulloch 04 May 2013

    Sat, 4 May 13

    Duration:
    6 mins

    Available:
    14 days remaining

    In this week's 60 Second Idea to Change the World, historian Diarmaid MacCulloch proposes a tax on piped music in bars, restaurants and shops. He doesn’t believe this background noise enhances anyone’s experience of being in such places, and would like to make the proprietors pay for inflicting it on us! Similar ‘Sin taxes’ are applied to alcohol and tobacco in many parts of the world, so why not add this to the list? Who knows, some business owners might abandon the practice altogether, resulting in a little more precious silence in a noisy world.

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  • Anonymous For a Day Aminatta Forna 27 Apr 2013

    Sat, 27 Apr 13

    Duration:
    5 mins

    Available:
    7 days remaining

    Writer Aminatta Forna proposes that we all wear a full body suit for one day a month…one that covers every part, including the head and face. This would be a return to the era of masquerade when people shed their inhibitions in the spirit of carnival. We would be released from our conformity and the expectations of others, as there would be no social markers, no colour, no old or young, no cliques or tribes. Anonymity would allow us to give free rein to our imaginations; we could be exactly who we want to be, and we would all be happier as a result.

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