About me/this blog

Welcome to The Future Now.  I'm a freelance writer with a specific interest in the prospects for transformative social change towards a more just, inclusive and sustainable society.  Thus the title of my first book, The Possibility of Progress.

Beyond economics, politics, evolutionary biology, psychology and the many other disciplines which have something to contribute to the debate about building a better world, my more general interests include film, music, wine, books and sport (especially cricket) so while this blog will feature posts on, and links to resources about, anything to do with the prospects for progressive social change, you will also find more general commentary, like this piece about the modern day fate of great music.

My professional career (I do make a bit of money from writing but not enough to pay the mortgage) has been mainly in IT.  I have worked in the  private, public and voluntary sectors, and spent three years as an advisor to the government of Mozambique.  This involved setting up an IT Department in Ministry of Health, developing and implementing that country's first national computerised health information system, as well as passing on skills to local colleagues.  It also provided me the oppurtuntity to travel widely in the region, to learn a great deal about what different cultures have in common, and to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

I subsequently did a stint as IT Manager at the housing and homelessness charity Shelter. Continuing homelessness is, I think, an indication of just how far our society has to go before it can honestly call itself civilised. 

Currently I work as IT Director at the Mary Evans Picture Library, the leading source of historical  imagery for editorial and commercial use (as the marketing blurb goes).  Writing wise, I'm working on another book, which examines the role of economics in promoting a just and sustainable global society.  I also write the odd article which I try to get published in the Guardian or elsewhere.  And I'm a regular contributor to the Guardian's group blog, Comment is Free, my back catalogue on which can be found here.

I live in south-east London, just off the Lee High Road, one of the best examples of multicultural community harmony in the country, and within walking distance of the lovely green spaces of Blackheath and Greenwich Park.  I share my home with my wife and two step children who are delightful and challenging in equal measure, and with two cats of whom the same might be said.

As for the name of this blog, The Future Now pretty much explains itself.  I hope to use the blog to consider what the future might look like, and discuss the factors that shape it, now. 

The name is taken from a 1978 song by Peter Hammill, once, and now once again, of Van Der Graaf Generator:

I want the future now,
I want to hold it in my hands;
all men equal and unbowed,
I want the promised land.

I'm sure if he was writing it today he'd use more gender-neutral language.  You can watch an excellent performance of the song from the early 1980s below, or read the full lyric here.

Thanks for stopping by. If you want to get in touch, email me here.

Mark