Nuclear energy, in terms of an overall safety record, is better than other energy.
Bill GatesRead
The media covers what’s new – and millions of people dying is nothing new. So it stays in the background, where it’s easier to ignore. But even when we do see it or read about it, it’s difficult to keep our eyes on the problem. It’s hard to look at suffering if the situation is so complex that we don’t know how to help. And so we look away.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes how the media often overlooks ongoing suffering due to its complex nature, leading people to ignore serious issues.
Bill Gates expresses a profound observation about the media's focus on the 'new' and how the ongoing suffering of millions can become background noise in public consciousness. He highlights the difficulty people face in confronting complex problems, which often leads to a tendency to look away rather than engage with these issues. This reflection invites us to consider our own reactions to suffering and the societal mechanisms that allow such issues to be ignored.
Themes
MediaSufferingComplexityIgnoranceAwareness
In practice
Example use cases
During a charity event, to emphasize the importance of keeping global suffering in view.
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