If tech giants want to build data centres, make them give something back to society

Big Issue readers react to Amelia Dimoldenberg’s NEETs-focused guest edit, Count Binface and the passing of Jimmy Cricket.

Data centres could also be an opportunity

While the initiatives in The Opportunity Issue were inspirational, the scale of the problem, and the threat AI poses for employment requires a nationally funded response but also presents huge opportunities. If we need more jobs to fill the AI-created wasteland, what are the ones we need to improve society? It’s not difficult to think of the jobs laid to waste by austerity: youth workers, park keepers, staff for Sure Start centres… The problem is there’s no money, is there? Except there is, with tech giants making billions from AI. They’re not going to hand it over just like that, though, are they? Not unless they’re made to. 

There are already models for this. Builders, besides taxes, also pay ‘planning gain’ – cash for something like a playground on a new estate. So, you want data centres? There’s a social compensation charge for that.

John Bishop

Amelia Dimoldenberg guest edit

Literally everything in life with regards to jobs and career is about who you know. Play the game. If you don’t know people, then fix that.  

Alex Wardwell 

Always seems to be about which family you were born into. Look into the background of many creatives and so many are private school kids or kids whose parents are in the industry themselves.  

Lesley J Edgecox

Rubbish argument

Count Binface says you can’t stand on stage and say I want to be a member of parliament in China. This is a common misunderstanding. In China, people can say this and be selected for parliament. The argument could be that elected candidates are better than meritocratic selection, when in reality both are flawed adaptations to governance. 

Joao Matos, Sutton

Read more:

• London’s data centres use 750,000 homes’ worth of electricity. It’s bad news for the housing crisis
• A data centre is uniting bugs and bikers to fight Google: ‘We demand you replace what you destroy’
• How nuclear bunkers could save the internet: ‘An appropriate metaphor for the climate crisis’

Howzat?

Thank you for your appreciation of Jimmy Cricket and for pointing us to his tribute to Big Issue on YouTube. Comedians can be brutal – Benny Hill famously wrote in his diary: “Met Jim Davidson, a fine comedian and gentleman. Had drinks with all three of them.” But Jimmy was both a natural comedian and a real gentleman who, for me, was part of growing up in the ’80s. They say you should never meet your heroes, but I am glad I did as he came and did a charity gig in our church hall. Despite being long retired he still had the all-age audience in stitches.

Revd Canon Andy Froud, Colne 

Responses to: Burnham’s homelessness pledge

I’m not a Labour supporter and didn’t vote Labour but I give him credit, he is by far the best we’ve had lately. Homelessness is so high and it’s great to see he’s really starting to work with people who aren’t multibillionaires.

Jade Tamara, Facebook

We love to see this focus from government on helping people who are experiencing homelessness!

Green Pastures, Facebook

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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