DAY 16, THE LONELINESS DAY, book 4, building

LONELINESS. Loneliness is a logical consequence of the world we built, read the banners which ran in a circle around Trafalgar Square where crowds of people arrived in silence for an early morning meditation. Below these banners ran a second text which read: We can build a world where we are connected and thrive. ‘What does thrive mean, Dad?’ a little boy asked. The father smiled wistfully. ‘It means that we’d be alright.’ Seeing his son’s puzzled look, the father added: ‘It means saplings will grow into strong trees in the forests, apple trees will be laden with fruits in the gardens, and meadows will be covered in the most amazing abundance of wildflowers.’ ‘Oh! How wonderful! Can we go and see it?’ ‘Maybe one day we can.’ Meanwhile on radio seven: ‘Good morning! Good morning to you all, here in London and everywhere! It’s Dragonfly TIME, and I am your host Phoenix Dragonfly. In the unlikely case you’ve missed it: It’s week three of the town project’s ubiquitous campaigns. You would expect that they’d open their third week with a bang. But, as so often, these people just don’t do what we’d expect. Instead, they grab us by the balls, pull, and stare deep into our souls. Damn you, folks! I love your project. I love your courage. Your bluntness. But! So, what has me this upset? The Loneliness Day. Sickening, lethal loneliness. Here’s the how they do it. Some of the how. Each of the seven campaigns addresses loneliness from their angle and that at events in twenty-one cities and more towns across the UK. We hear that some places in Ireland and in wider Europe have jumped on the bandwagon as well. Which is fantastic. And now, it gets personal. Because I have lost two people to loneliness, this theme hits me hard. Bloody hard! But in the middle of sinking into the hell of painful memories, I thought to myself: you’ve got to fight this! You can’t let this drag you down. You are a bloody dragon! I am! And I decided to drink from the town project’s cup of courage and do my bit for a future where we no longer shun each other, where we have the time to be with each other, where we recognise and elevate each other, where we love, dance and chill together. Yes! That’s where we can get. So, what are my contributions to that end, today? Number one: I dedicate this show to this avoidable tragedy which has claimed many lives and crippled many more. Number two: My guests, today, are all connected to the town project, one or two for each main campaign. And number three: today’s music is all about the fight, the transformation, the healing, the coming together. Wow! Now I need to take a deep breath. Yes! That’s better. I’m ready to go. Are you? I hope so, because here enter my first guests, two of my favourites at the town project: Mudiwa and Rose from ripples news. Come in, come in. Mudiwa, Rose, I am a fan! Your live coverages always sparkle with energy! Fantastic work!’ ‘Thank you so much, Phoenix! You’re very kind,’ Mudiwa returned, smiling, and Rose said: ‘Thank you! It’s great to be here! An honour!’ ‘Oh, this is fantastic! Take a seat, take a seat. Great! Can I start with a question for you Mudiwa?’ ‘Sure.’ ‘I heard that you sort of stumbled into doing live coverages for the town project.’ Mudiwa nodded. ‘True. It was a spontaneous idea last September. After a break, the project had its first day back, which was also the first day of us all being in London at the new Compound. And only the night before, we had the idea to share this first day live and introduce our new location and the project teams.’ Rose nodded. ‘That day was exhausting but so much fun that we did more live coverages on key days at the town project.’ Phoenix nodded. ‘And now you’re on the road every day to cover the campaign events?’ Mudiwa nodded. ‘We’re just one team in many, who cover eight to twelve events a day, trying to capture what an event is about, and what it means for the visitors.’ ‘How do you approach a day like today?’ Mudiwa twitched the corner of her mouth. ‘The campaign teams are really great. They hand out very detailed information about their events, their motives, their goals, the sources of their inspirations, and even warnings. For today, for example, the campaigns have booked thousands of therapists and social workers to be at the events, sitting on benches, in small pavilions, free to talk, free to buffer any emotion that might arise, for visitors and crew alike.’ ‘Wow!’ Phoenix exclaimed. Rose nodded. ‘After studying the material, we were uncertain which kinds of loneliness to focus on.’ Mudiwa nodded. ‘And then one of our team said: “Why not shine a light on everything that can be an antidote to loneliness.’ ‘Wow! That’s a thought. Can you give us an example?’ Rose smiled. ‘Many. Loneliness is, among other things, a result of an economic system which indoctrinates people to consume, to follow trends, to compete, to seek a career, and to measure their status in terms of their possessions. In contrast, our project businesses empower, collaborate, and encourage people to be themselves without reference to possessions, titles or trends. Success is measured in the amount of positive ripple effects a business or a person creates.’ Mudiwa nodded. ‘That’s why our first stop, today, will be our project businesses at the Compound. We’ll do interviews and showcase every part of our business approaches that is an antidote for loneliness.’ ‘I am impressed! Honestly. I am impressed! And by the way, I’m a great fan of dot. And it’s true, dot. asks me what I want to wear. It doesn’t tell me what I should wear. And I’m an absolute fan of the moods collections and, of course, of the beat by beat collections. And you’re so right. dot. allows me to define who I am, who I want to be. And somewhere on the globe, they have designers who can get it just right for me, and others who like the same. It’s mind-blowing. I’m empowered because I’m allowed and encouraged to be me. And I’m talking too much. I’m just so thrilled. But if we are happy in ourselves, we’re much more likely to find a way out of loneliness. Actually, the dot.moods collection addresses depression and anxiety, too. dot. truly is about the human, not about profit. Yes, dot. does a great job and that without any exploitation, mass production or ecocide but with amazing local dot.workshops, empowered material suppliers, and I’ve seen plans for dot.stations which will be something like fabrics-colours-clothing-nature-party-workshops-and-pavilions gardens. Something fantastic! A fabric in the fabric of a local community! And now I screech to a halt and finally ask my next question: My dears, What are your next stops, today! And forgive my bubbling.’ Mudiwa smiled. ‘I wish we had brought the camera. dot. has this effect on many, and I never tire of listening to how dot. transforms lives just by opening the world in a way that ripples right into our personal lives.’ Phoenix laughed and clapped. ‘I so agree! Anyway, what is your next stop?’ Mudiwa smiled. ‘Next we’ll do an interview with Ethan, the head of town planning. We’ll talk about how the layout of our town will contribute to an active community, to chance meetings, to relaxing together. After that, we have my favourite for today: an interview with Tilly, head of the Sports and Martial Arts Team. We’ll talk about the town’s Challenge Garden, and about how facing conflicts and fighting can be antidotes to loneliness. It’s when we stop to communicate that we give loneliness that crack where it can creep into our lives.’ ‘Wow! True words.’ Rose smiled. ‘After that we’re at an event called: Being interested. We aren’t sure what to expect, but the gist of this event seems to be: we need people who are interested in our thoughts, in our work, in our explorations. Being interested in each other is a way to kick out loneliness and to make discoveries with the other.’ ‘That sounds intriguing.’ Mudiwa nodded. ‘Our final event today will be about trauma and body work. The event team say that working with the body can release traumata, and healing enables us to open up to other people again.’ ‘Wow! That’s amazing! Oh my, it really pains me to say goodbye. But it’s time for MUSIC! And for my next guest. Thank you both so much for coming. Thank you so much for your great work!’ ‘Thank you!’ Rose and Mudiwa returned. ‘Ah, now I really have to play the songs so I can say a proper goodbye to these wonderful people. I’ll be back in no time.’ Three songs later, Phoenix Dragonfly welcomed Elio, the head of the Longevity Campaign. ‘Elio! Thank you so much for coming.’ ‘It’s an honour! I love your show!’ ‘Thanks, man! Thanks! We are a bit in a hurry so I’ll jump right in with my first question: Longevity, Loneliness. Where’s the connection?’ Elio chuckled. ‘That depends. If the only company you have is toxic, then loneliness or rather solitude will be preferable. But generally, the more connected we are to people, the better for our health. The healthier we are, the more likely it is that we grow old.’ ‘Does this mean the Longevity Campaign merges with the Connections Campaign for the day?’ ‘Not exclusively. In fact, we have co-events with all other campaigns, and sometimes it’s three campaign teams for an event or more. We have twelve events which are a cooperation of all seven campaign teams.’ WOW! That probably means it doesn’t make sense if I ask you which events the Longevity Team offers today?’ Elio smiled. ‘Do you have a week?’ ‘A week?’ ‘I didn’t measure it. But, yes, taking all our event locations into account, and the events added by local people in cooperation with our campaign, it’s a long list.’ ‘Wow! Do you have a favourite event?’ ‘Hm. Today is really special because it’s the first day that we actively connect all campaigns. I think that’s what I’m most curious about. Will these overlaps work? What will we discover by connecting our campaigns?’ Elio thought for a moment. ‘Though, being someone who loves sharing a meal, I particularly look forward to the longest dining table ever, and I am curious whether this idea will work.’ ‘I haven’t heard about this one.’ ‘The original idea was that eating together is a way of connecting. Then Constance, who is the crafts expert on the Campaigns & Negotiations Team, said: “What comes before eating together? Cooking, you might say. But where do we sit? Where do we place our plates? Where does timber come from? Where the clay for the plates?” And then Zoila, head of the Connections Campaign, said: “Crafting together connects.” That’s when Dana, the ecology expert on the Campaigns & Negotiations Team, added: ‘Plus, connecting to everything that makes a meal, the table, the plate also means connecting to nature, to what we eat, to where we find food and materials. If we are connected to the natural world, loneliness loses some of its sting because we discover that we are part of nature, part of nature’s ingenuity.”’ ‘This sounds amazing! But how will all of this be incorporated into the event?’ ‘Let me answer this for London because it’s different in other locations. Here, we prepared three hundred and thirty-three spots which we want to connect in the course of the day so that tonight part of Central London can sit at an interconnected web of tables and eat together. People can bring their own tables, chairs, plates, foods, or they can visit one of those spots and build, craft, harvest or cook something that will become part of the whole.’ Phoenix shook his head. ‘Incredible! Absolutely incredible! Car drivers will go spare!’ Elio smiled. ‘We have organised special bike bus services and bike taxis for car drivers who need to travel in Central London today. Driving a car is a pretty lonely pursuit anyway, and we added several events for car drivers where they can explore what it is about a car that makes people put up with traffic jams, high purchasing and maintenance costs, ever increasing gas prices and pollution.’ ‘You’ve thought of everything! Wow! Such a shame that our time is up. It’s been great talking to you, Elio! Thank you. And now it’s time for MUSIC — and for our next guest.’ After another three songs, Phoenix was laughing with Dennie. ‘Ah, we’re on air again. Hello, and welcome back, my friends. With me now is Dennie, a member of the Campaigns and Negotiations Team, and a member of the legendary security company THE, and a member of the security detail of Alice Adler herself.’ Dennie chuckled. ‘Thanks for the flattering introduction, makes me wanna giggle.’ Phoenix laughed. ‘Tell me, Dennie, what’s it like to work with Alice Adler?’ ‘It’s like being home, comfortable. She can have a bad day, sure, but she laughs about my jokes. What more can you ask for?’ Phoenix chuckled. ‘Wow! I want to know more, but I can see that that’s all you’ll give me.’ ‘Absolutely!’ ‘OK. I heard that the Your Powers Campaign was your idea.’ ‘Yep.’ ‘What gave you the idea?’ ‘A while back, a friend of mine said: “People don’t know how much power they have. If you tell them, it’s like they don’t hear you. If they hear you, they act as if you’re asking something weird of them, like they can’t possibly oppose what makes them sick because that’s just not how things are done.” These words stuck with me, kept bugging me, if I’m honest. But it took years before I grasped how much power I have, years before I began to use my power to boycott, to strike, to decide what I want to go along with and where to draw the line, when to speak up and when to fight.’ Phoenix narrowed his eyes. ‘You don’t come across as a rebel.’ Dennie smiled. ‘Yeah, people say that. And maybe I’m not. I just keep my eyes open and decide what I want to support, and where I don’t want to be complicit in causing harm. I mean people buy from companies who don’t have the slightest interest in human welfare or the planet’s future. Those corporations are only interested in selling vast amounts of rubbish and scams for Wall Street, and they call that growth. Which is really gross because that kind of growth is really a killing machine, killing people, aspirations, communities, ecosystems. You know, it’s true I’m not the shouting kind of rebel, but I decide what I want to make possible and what to oppose, and I do it by the choices I take.’ Phoenix nodded thoughtfully. ‘Deep thoughts. Deep thoughts. Tell me, how will the Your Powers Campaign deal with today’s theme: Loneliness?’ Dennie smiled lopsidedly. ‘By showing, at all sorts of events, that one of the most powerful things you can do is to ask for help.’ ‘Wow! So true!’ ‘Yep. A friend once said to me: “Power is like energy. Power allows us to act, for better or worse or at all.” And if you’re lonely, you might feel like you have no power at all. But you do. You have the power to ask for help, and help will replenish you.’ ‘Man, that’s— That’s something! Last question: You’re a security expert. Isn’t that a lonely job?’ Dennie smiled. ‘Can be. Not at THE, though. Our founder put a lot of thought into how to run this company, how to steel us against burnouts, loneliness, losing it. I can’t reveal any details, but there’s layers of measures which are pure healthcare and teamcare.’ ‘And again: Wow! I have to add another last question: What’s your favourite Your Powers event, today?’ Dennie chuckled. ‘I have several favourites, but the event I volunteered to visit is the Power to Rest event on the Thames. The team somehow got hundreds of rafts ready where you can go and simply take a rest. It’s that power to do what your body needs. And on the rafts we’re all together, in the river. I love that image. And also: we are not alone in needing rest. We are not alone in our needs. Plus, we can take care of ourselves and still be in company.’ ‘WOW! Dennie, thank you so much for joining the show!’ ‘My pleasure, Phoenix!’ Three songs later, Phoenix welcomed Nona, a storyteller with the NARRATIVES CAMPAIGN. ‘Nona, I’m a fan of your short stories, of your long stories, of your medium stories, and of every snippet I managed to catch during these campaigns. It’s a great, great honour to have you on the programme.’ ‘You’re too kind, Phoenix! It’s great to be here. Thanks for having me! Thanks for being such a great voice for the campaigns.’ ‘The campaigns are intriguing. Daily challenges with a whiff of rebellion.’ Nona laughed. ‘I agree!’ ‘Say, Nona, you aren’t part of the town team, right?’ ‘No. When I first heard about the town project, I was curious but also suspicious, if you must know. But when they called for authors for their Narratives Campaign, I thought: That’s my chance! I can go undercover and check them out, see whether they’re real, or just a bunch of idealists, or another rendition of catchy phrases without substance.’ ‘And what’s your verdict?’ ‘Amazing real humans with a genuine passion for their town and their experiments. It’s mind-blowing! Like, I never expected that something like this could be possible. Not outside of a story! But it is. “How?” my husband asked me. First I shrugged, but then the penny dropped: They are who they are because they are explorers who want to discover, who want to create together, and who don’t give a damn about besting anyone, controlling, or even having all the answers. On this project you have people who are curious, who are empowered, fearless, unafraid to ask any question that comes to mind. Encouraged to ask any question. Encouraged to question every result. And that for humanity and the planet, not for profit, not for some cult or some ultimate truth. Like I said: It’s mind-blowing.’ ‘Wow! What will you be doing, today?’ Nona smiled and took a sheet of paper from her breast pocket. ‘It’s too much to remember. Let me see. My next stop is a school where my team and the school children will work on stories of people who find a way out of their loneliness. It’s something I’ve done before—’ ‘—Wow! How do you do that?’ ‘We begin with a dream session. It’s like a warm-up for the mind where we encourage the children to let their minds drift, and where we invent locations, characters, events. But short, like snippets, just a warm-up to give them the building blocks they can use in their stories. Next we talk about what loneliness is, how it can happen. And then we create seven to twelve lonely characters. Afterwards the children form groups of three to five, choose one of the lonely characters, find a cosy place, and create a story of how their character finds a way out of their loneliness.’ ‘Wow! And that works?’ ‘Every time. It’s amazing. Children are visionaries. I think we all could be. And sometimes I wonder whether our minds need to rediscover their potentials. That’s the core of the next event on my list. That event’s main question is: What kind of warm-up gives adults the freedom to break through the crust of ideas, traumata, convictions which fog and chain our minds? What would allow our minds to roam freely again so that we can become visionaries, thinkers, shapers?’ ‘Wow! And have you found a warm-up?’ ‘I can’t tell you live because, at the event, we’ll work with surprises as a way of stimulating the minds. But I can recommend these events. They are called: Unfolding your mind’s potentials.’ ‘Sounds great! But how is that connected to loneliness?’ ‘Having strong opinions is not a community builder. Being pedantic is not a community builder. Being a know-it-all is not a community builder. When the mind unfolds, then it can make room for more perspectives, for more curiosity, for more people, more connections. Most importantly an unfolding mind is an explorer’s mind. Exploring is particularly fertile when done together. Anyone who experiences that will have an incentive to connect to other explorers.’ ‘That makes sense.’ ‘It does, doesn’t it? Anyway, my stop after that is my favourite event, today. It’s called A million stories to connect.’ ‘Wow! What is it?’ ‘It’s an open-air event at Wembley Stadium which started at midnight and will end at midnight.’ ‘Twenty-four hours?’ ‘Yes! And it’s an attempt at a world record.’ ‘Wow!’ ‘The challenge is to create a million or more story snippets which give us positive visions of how we can connect to each other, how we can build communities, how we can identify and address the root causes of loneliness.’ ‘That is seriously fantastic! Will you participate or will you be a juror?’ ‘There’s no competition, hence no jurors. I already participated in the early morning and will again tonight. I’ll also be one of the mentors when I return to Wembley.’ ‘Mentors?’ ‘Yes. Say, someone has an idea, and they’re stuck. Then they can go to one of the thousand mentors on location.’ ‘Thousand mentors?’ Nona smiled. ‘Yes! We need all the stories we can get to shape our world, to create visions, to turn the table on what makes us sick, to stand up to those who misled us with their stories of betrayals, competition, superiority, dominance and everything that damaged us and our planet.’ Phoenix applauded. ‘Fantastic! Well, I hate to let you go! But I can’t wait to see the project set that world record. What am I saying, I’m sure they will. And now, it’s time for more MUSIC. Thank you so much for joining me, Nona!’ After another three songs, Phoenix said: ‘Welcome back, my dear friends. You won’t believe it. I can hardly believe it. But I have the great honour of welcoming no other to this show than Alice Adler, head of the town project. And I must admit, I’m just a tad shy.’ Alice chuckled. ‘Don’t be. I’m grateful to be here because I finally get the chance to thank you in person for the show you did after the first big wave of attacks on the project. THANK YOU! Hearing our friends on your show that day meant an awful lot. And Bertok’s and Kyle’s songs are so special to me. Your show was the power boost we needed that morning. Thank you for that!’ ‘Alice Adler! Don’t thank me! I just did what I felt was right. And it was great to meet your team.’ ‘Thanks. You know, I’m actually fine if we talk about other things now. I’m not that good at these thank you things.’ Phoenix chuckled. ‘Not sure I am. I just have to say it again: With me now is the actual head of the notorious town project: Alice Adler. Should I sound a little overexcited, then that’s because I am. But I’ll ask a question now. Alice Adler, you chose the slot for today’s True Power is in Creation Campaign. Why this campaign and what’s the connection to loneliness?’ ‘Last year, a poet from Lebanon said to me: ‘True power — if you think about God — true power is in creation, not in destruction, repression or tyranny. A true and powerful leader will create not destroy.’ ‘WOW! That is powerful. And it rings absolutely true.’ ‘Yes. And ever since, this quote keeps resurfacing. And I’m very happy that the poet himself is one of our guest speakers at this campaign.’ ‘That’s fantastic!’ ‘Yes! I’ve always wondered why those who exert oppression, exploitation and tyranny are perceived as powerful when they achieve nothing, create nothing, and only destroy human potential and our planet. My conclusion is that we mistook brashness for strength, and that’s why we have been calling people powerful who are cowards, and who use brute force and manipulation to enforce a narrow-minded, deprived world. It’s incomprehensible that we let this go on for centuries. But then, it’s the world we know. True power is in creating worlds which have freed themselves of cowardice, brutality, and all forms of repression.’ ‘You have won me. We only know the deprived world. We need visions of what is possible, visions of what a thriving world looks like to make it possible.’ Alice smiled broadly. ‘That’s perfectly put.’ ‘I’m inspired. And even more curious. How do you tie this in with today’s theme?’ Alice nodded. ‘Roger, the head of our Crafts Team, said: “The human is a creative creature, take creativity away and you take away an essential part of being human.”’ ‘Wow!’ ‘And that’s this campaign’s focus, today. If we as individuals are only half of who we are, if our wings are clipped, if we are damaged, then it is much easier to withdraw and lick our wounds in solitude than to seek connections. But if we discover true power, the power to create, the power to shape, then this has a healing effect on us. The more we heal, the more we are uplifted the more we are capable of opening to others. Opening to others is a door to connecting and to getting away from loneliness.’ Alice sighed a little, and added: ‘But there is more. I don’t know whether any of the campaigns picks this up, but it’s been on my mind on the drive here. A person might be surrounded by great people and do great work, but they could still feel lonely. This is a slippery thought, but it’s something about: to connect to people requires quality time, to connect to nature requires quality time. It doesn’t just happen, and it needs frequent attention. And that means, if I’m constantly busy, constantly on the move, then I can be terribly lonely because I don’t take the time to nurture and grow the connections that would replace the loneliness.’ ‘I’m— I agree. We forget that everything living lives because it’s nurtured.’ Alice raised her eyebrows. ‘Would you consider joining our team?’ Phoenix laughed. ‘And give up my radio show?’ ‘Oh, no. Bring your radio show to our town. You have an amazing talent of extracting the core of a thought.’ ‘Thank you! Wow! My show in your town. Wow! You know, I’ll give it a thought!’ ‘Great! What else would you like to know?’ ‘Oh, I forgot, you’re in a hurry. What’s happening for you, today?’ Alice smiled lopsidedly. ’There is a schedule, but my schedule usually gets rewritten several times a day, and I rarely get a chance to be at a campaign event. Though, this noon me and my team will attend a memorial on Trafalgar Square in memory of Londoners who took their lives due to loneliness. It’s an event which also recognises that loneliness is not an isolated matter. Many are affected by loneliness, and more are affected by lonely people and their fate.’ ‘True words! May I ask, have you lost someone to loneliness?’ ‘Not anyone close. But I remember a lonely lady in my religious time. Me and one or two friends accepted an invitation to tea. It was OK, but also sort of uncomfortable because it was so obvious that she was lonely. Some weeks later, she took her life.’ ‘Oh, my God! But not …’ ‘I doubt that. We were just young people who temporarily visited that church. We hardly knew her. But it still affected us. And yes, the question whether we could have prevented it if we had understood the situation still lingers at the back of my mind. But we were no match, not in age, not in interests. And I think that’s important. In order to connect, we need to find people we can relate to. You could say, there needs to be something that fits together.’ ‘Docking points?’ ‘Exactly!’ ‘Alice Adler. It’s fantastic to meet you, and I hate to let you go, but it’s time for MUSIC and soon for our next guest.’ ‘Thanks again, Phoenix, for your great show and for your invaluable support.’ Six songs later. ‘Welcome back, and sorry for the long break. I hope you enjoyed the music. And I hope you’re up for more because more is coming: yet another angle, and two people I’m very curious about. They are a couple, both architects. They only connected to the town project after the campaigns were first announced, and today they are actively involved in events for the Connections Campaign. Allow me to welcome and introduce: Oliver and Alexander!’ ‘Thanks so much for having us! It’s really great! Such an honour,’ Alexander said and Oliver nodded, beaming. ‘Thanks,’ Phoenix said. ‘It’s great to have you. Let’s dive straight in and talk about your events today and what those have to do with connections and loneliness.’ ‘Happy, too,’ Oliver said. ‘I design bridges, and when I read about the Connections Campaign, I thought: This is for me! I literally design connections, I span divides, I conquer the abyss. Then I saw that the Longevity Campaign addressed loneliness, and I thought: What is loneliness other than the abyss which separates us from community, from belonging? Could literal bridges help us to build community? But how? Where? And then I had a crazy dream. I was on top of our apartment building and jumped to the next roof, then to the next, and when I came to a wide gap, I jumped into the air and flew to the opposite roof. I woke up drenched in sweat. A happy, mad superman smile on my face, I sneaked into our kitchen and began to draw. The result is an event where we have all the materials, all the experts, all the safety nets and security measures to connect a web of roofs across London, and in five other UK cities. And while we’re up there, we plant low weight gardens, install some sixty thousand solar panels, add rain-capture installations and so on.’ ‘That sounds fantastic! But I have to ask: What does any of this have to do with loneliness?’ Oliver smiled broadly. ‘Everything! Our economic system, the way we build, the way we educate, the way we divide our society into classes, races, ages, gender, and all the rest of it, leads to loneliness for a multitude of reasons. In contrast, building together, creating together, achieving something like energy independence, water recycling, together, and seeing that our work makes a difference for people and planet — all of that fills us with so much dopamine, we’ll need the parties on the roofs afterwards, to shake off some of it. You see, we build bridges, gardens, energy supply and all the rest, and at the same time we build connections between us, we experience what is possible if we work hand in hand, and we will forever have been part of this unforgettable event. Creating together, bridging the houses, creating spaces where we can meet and where we can contribute to a healing planet — every single bit of this gives us a boost, connects us, strengthens us — loneliness was yesterday, today we build bridges.’ ‘WOW! And you want to do this on one day?’ Oliver grinned. ‘I wanted to. We have the people to do it. But Security limited the number of people who can be on a roof, plus several people pointed out that loneliness is not one of those things you cure in a day. Once you are in a state of loneliness, it takes time to shake it off bit by bit, learn to trust again, yourself, the people around you. Plus, and that was really the argument that got me, building connections takes time, especially for people. There’s no high speed track, no fast food option to building and maintaining human connections. So we’ve stretched this event across the whole week, and we’ll have a big roofs party in eight days.’ ‘Wow! I’m impressed! Alexander, will you build bridges, too?’ Alexander smiled. ‘I’ll give a hand a few times, but I’m also involved in other events, today, and for the Digging Deeper Day, and for the Ending the War against Ourselves Day.’ ‘Wow! I’d love to hear about each of those, but what will you do, today?’ Alexander smiled. ‘I’m one of the architects at an open-air conference, today, on city planning and architecture. The main question we want to explore in over seven thousand spots in more than twenty UK cities is: How can we as town planners and architects design cities so that loneliness isn’t the result of our work?’ ‘Wow! Please, tell us more.’ ‘As an architect, and one who is in love with design, I served the eye, my eye, my sense of aesthetics, my sense of impressing, of surprising. Before I came across the town project, I rarely asked whether my design invited communication, closeness, community. I never ask what it does to people to be in square rooms, separated from their fellow humans. I never wondered about the fire around which people used to gather, or any sort of gathering. But once you allow for these thoughts and revisit the discussions around density in cities and sprawling suburbs, you begin to adjust your thoughts. Yes, there are good reasons to build high rather than to sprawl, but what do we achieve by filling houses with strangers, each of them in their own boxes, we call flats? And the answer is: we achieve an accumulation of strangers, too many of them lonely. So, what we want to do at today’s open-air conference is to ask, can we build high rises, apartment houses, flats in a way that connect us to each other? And we know that the design is just one aspect in this. But can we recreate equivalents of that fire? Can we break the block and insert gardens, community cafés, community kitchens, community workout places, and the like on all floors? Can we make the houses we build about living together, about being a community, about taking an interest in each other, about sharing spaces, about interacting, dancing together?’ ‘Wow! That’s a whole new world. I love it! May I ask: why was loneliness the topic that attracted you two? I mean we all experience loneliness sometimes, but was there something like the loneliest you ever felt?’ Alexander nodded. ‘We both clicked with the topic in an instance. I had a peculiar childhood, which was partly due to the fact that my parents moved a lot. I was never like anyone I met. I never belonged. When I got older, I sometimes thought, well, one day I’ll find my pack. I can’t be the only one who is like me. The loneliest I ever felt was when I came across people I could relate to in ways I had never before — and they ignored me. That nearly broke my heart. If my own pack wanted nothing to do with me, then there was no hope for me, I thought at the time.’ ‘Man, I’m— that must hurt so much.’ ‘It did. I wept a lot at the time. My heart screaming. I remember thinking: this is worse than anything else, people you like, people you connect to, people whose work relates to yours, people with whom you could build the sort of buildings that need a combination of many ingenious minds — and those people— I don’t know. I don’t know what keeps them.’ ‘They are arrogant pricks,’ Oliver said soothingly. Alexander shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. I think they’re caught in some weird, internalised narratives which don’t allow them to open to people who don’t fit into what they know — and maybe I was simply too late. Maybe they don’t have room for anyone else in their circle.’ Alexander exhaled noisily. ‘But luckily that wasn’t the end. I still sometimes come across those people and think we would be great together, for planet and people, but I am immensely grateful that this wasn’t the end of my story.’ ‘Wow! That’s— Wow, well, what was your worst moment of loneliness, Oliver?’ Oliver smiled a little. ‘When I met Alexander.’ ‘Wow!’ ‘I was certain I had met the man of my life. I was likewise certain that he would never be interested in me. It felt deadly, and threw me right into the abyss.’ ‘Wow! What happened?’ Oliver smiled a little. ‘While I was convinced that I had no chance, there was this sliver of hope that told me to leave little hints here and there, disguised, only legible for someone who might feel something similar.’ ‘And did you notice those hints?’ Alexander smiled. ‘I did. But I didn’t trust what I saw. There were moments when I scolded myself for believing that any of this could have a meaning, let alone a meaning meant for me.’ ‘Wow! How did you two— I mean how did it happen?’ Oliver smiled. ‘I tried to get Alexander out of my mind. But it was impossible. First thought in the morning, last thought at night, and many in between. At some point I talked myself into simply being interested in his work, and I sought opportunities to be at the same events as he was. The more often we crossed paths, the more often we had little chats, then longer chats. And then there was this one conference, we both went to, and when we met in the lobby, we both complained that this conference was a total waste of time. And that’s when I confessed that I had only come because I knew Alexander would be there, too.’ ‘Wow! And that was that?’ Alexander nodded. ‘I admit I had been too proud to try and win Oliver. I had a few miserable relationships, and the last thing I needed was a guy I had to lure into liking me. I needed Oliver to be the person who says: I see you and I still want to be with you.’ ‘Wow! Fantastic! And you were among the first couples to marry officially.’ ‘Yes,’ Oliver said. ‘The same-sex marriage law took effect on the thirteenth of March twenty fourteen, and we married on the second of May, the same year.’ Alexander nodded and squeezed Oliver’s hand, frowning a little. ‘But a relationship is no guardian against loneliness. We have two friends who stumbled into relationships, one because of her pregnancy, the other, I don’t know. In both cases, our friends are incredibly lonely in their relationships because they feel trapped in a life they wouldn’t have chosen, a life they stumbled into, a life they can’t escape because their sense of duty forbids them to change their situation. We support them, but we can’t make up for what they go through day after day. That’s the kind of predicament where no bridge helps. You either want to share your life with a person or you don’t. You can’t make yourself want.’ Oliver nodded. ‘The same is actually true for jobs. If you’re in a job you don’t like, but the people around you do, then that makes you lonely, too. I know it’s a bit drastic, but I think we’re best for our children, for our communities, for our jobs, for our planet, if we are happy, centred, content, if we find a way out of loneliness, even if that feels like abandoning others, or like failing to stick to a plan we made.’ Alexander nodded. ‘I’d even go so far to say that suffering loneliness and discontent is more harmful to those we care about than being honest, getting out, healing and being a parent, a friend or a co-worker who leads by the example that, yes, we all make mistakes, but we can change course.’ Oliver nodded. ‘Our loneliness is like a disease, and it’s the kind of disease that affects the people around us and our work.’ Phoenix shook his head. ‘You really hit a mark there. My parents were just like that. They stayed together because of me, and I grew up believing it’s natural that couples hardly ever talk, never spend a holidays together, and are only at ease when the other is on a business trip. Boy, these memories. Makes me feel dizzy, even now. I don’t know about you, my dear listeners, but I need a break. And I need MUSIC. Guys, thank you so much for being here! And for sharing these intense insights. Thanks so much!’ Four songs later. ‘Welcome! Welcome back, my friends! And speaking of friends: when I heard that my dear friend Franya had joined the notorious campaigns as a runner, I just couldn’t help to ask her to join me, today. I hope you’ll forgive me this bit of favouritism. Franya, my friend, welcome to Dragonfly Time!’ ‘Thanks for having me, Phoenix! It’s great to be here. You look great! And I love your show!’ ‘Thanks. Thanks. You look great, too. Franya, you are a runner for the Benefits of Empowerment Campaign. Were they annoyed that you got the invitation to the show?’ Franya laughed. ‘Not at all. They love you. Everyone loves you, after the show you did for the Campaigns and Negotiations Team. But everyone is so busy they were actually relieved that you’d made the choice of guest for them.’ ‘I’m glad to hear it. What kind of instructions did you get?’ Franya chuckled. ‘To have a good time.’ ‘That’s all?’ ‘Yep. It’s a cool team. And when they speak of empowerment, they mean that. If I want to speak, they give me a stage and they listen. Mind you, when I first brought up today’s interview, my direct boss asked: “Are you OK talking live on a radio show? If you’re not, that’s OK.”’ Phoenix laughed. ‘That’s so sweet! Well, let’s get started then. Can you tell us how the Benefits of Empowerment Campaign approached today’s theme, and what will today be like for you?’ Franya smiled lopsidedly. ‘Our first meeting on loneliness was like: “Erm … What can we do? It’s obvious that an empowered person isn’t lonely, isn’t it? Because empowerment allows us to be who we are. When we are who we are, we’ll find our flock, our place, and we’ll be OK. Mostly.”’ Phoenix nodded. ‘True words. So what is happening, today?’ ‘Our team works a lot with simulations. For loneliness our simulations illuminate two central aspects: ‘What are the consequences of loneliness in this or that scenario? And how does this or that factor affect the extent of loneliness in our societies? For example: What’s a world like where everyone is lonely? What’s a world like where no one is lonely? And every state of society in between. It’s a bone-chiller and an eye-opener. The negative effects of loneliness on society and on the health of the planet are devastating because loneliness incapacitates us, we lack the drive, the joy, the energy to get anything done. In contrast a world where no one is lonely thrives in every aspect because connected people cooperate, restore, create. Interestingly, even smaller extents of loneliness have negative effects on the whole planet, in particular, when people in power are lonely, because lonely people are much more likely to turn into ruthless exploiters than connected, rooted people. It’s vastly intriguing. And you can add complexity by factoring in different groups of people, races, classes or gender: Like, What if all men are lonely but only half of the non-binary people and a quarter of all female people? It’s so interesting. In the other main simulation, the user can pick different factors and see how these affect the extent of loneliness in our societies. For example, is there a connection between the lack of empowerment and loneliness? And would an all-encompassing empowerment mean the end of loneliness? What about full-on competition, no competition and every state in between? What about sprawling settlements on one side and dense settlements on the other, and much more. We hope that the simulations show how everything is connected, and that the world we allowed to form is predestined to drive us into loneliness and destruction. But the simulations also show how little it takes to shape a completely different world.’ ‘Wow! And I must say, the simulations are very powerful. I’ve seen a fair number of them, each hitting me hard. But you’re right, there’s also a lot of hope in them because they show what is possible. Yeah. Wow! So, is it all simulations, today?’ ‘No. We start this third week of campaigns with nearly ten thousand events in over a hundred locations in the UK. There’s one in twelve directions most of our empowerment events take, today. I’m with the London Empowerment Team 3 for a daylong event that is built like an adventure game. There are mysteries to solve, treasures to find. To succeed you have to build strength and community. And for that you need to identify what’s in the way, like: How can I get strong when I’m lonely, how can I become part of a community when I’m lonely or shy, how can I become part of the game when I feel like I have no power, where do I find empowerment, what does empowerment do to me, will I be able to rise and do my bit, will I connect, will I be able to solve this or that mystery? And so on. It’s super complex but includes tracks you can do with children or with those whose knowledge is more in their hands than in their minds or for those whose appetite is in extremely complex thinking. You can also choose whether you’d rather be stationary at one of the game’s event spots, or whether you’d like to be part of a pack who do the actual hunting. The good thing about empowerment is that it’s essentially about giving a voice, a stage to what someone has to offer. And in this game everyone can find a spot where they are not only welcome but where they can become part of the event. It’s a gamer’s dream. And it’s real. Out in the open air. But there is a digital component because more games take place at the same time in other cities, and people, stationary and hunting, can connect, exchange tips, support and strengthen each other online. And that’s were I found an eye-opener: loneliness isn’t just a human to human thing. It’s a town and city thing, too. Why? Because loneliness happens when we feel helpless. When we feel like we don’t count. Like we have nothing to offer. That can happen to places, too, cities, towns can feel or might even be treated like they are worth less than other places. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can connect in trillions of ways, people, cities, natures. And that’s where my team’s special thanks goes to the Connections Team who helped us to figure out how to connect all our events across the UK.’ ‘Wow! And what will you be doing, today?’ ‘Whatever needs to be done at or for the game. Sometimes it’s making sure there’s enough water. Other times it’s running with a group for a bit until they’ve found their footing, and after that you might notice a shy person in the crowd, and you try to find an opening, an encouraging word, and maybe that person will join this or that game or event. My job is to be a runner, to fill gaps, but also to keep my eyes and ears open and be approachable for people.’ ‘Franya, my friend, I can only say, I am impressed! And I sincerely hope that many people find the courage to experience empowerment and an escape from loneliness. Thank you so much for coming! Let’s go for a drink soon! I want to hear more, a lot more.’ Three songs later. ‘Welcome back! And welcome, Quintessa, head of the wonderful Press Pause Campaign. We only have fourteen minutes left. I got a bit chatty in between. But I’m very happy to see you again. And I think your campaign is absolutely right when it says that we, the people, should demand time to think and time to shape our societies. So long as we are constantly rushing from day to day, we’ll just remain stuck in all the flawed narratives which make us and our planet sick.’ Quintessa smiled. ‘You’re spot on, Phoenix. And thanks for this introduction. Thanks for having me.’ ‘It’s lovely to see you again. And I love that your name’s meaning is essence. That’s very much what your campaign is about, isn’t it?’ ‘Absolutely. We live in a time where many of us are too busy to give the mess our world is in a thought. But we need to find the essence of what harms us and our natural world, and then we need to focus on removing and replacing everything that makes this harm possible. Over the last two campaign weeks, the Press Pause Campaign was all about: What is it that occupies us day and night? What is it that keeps us from thinking? What keeps us from healing? What keeps us from shaping a world that works? What are the things, thoughts and plans we can press pause on? What can we postpone in favour of finally dealing with the messes we as the people of this planet need to face? Plus, our team did a number of events on thinking and on how to focus. And now, this week, we build on the contents of the previous two weeks, and invite everyone who can to focus on the essence of what we need to deal with. We begin with a focus on loneliness which is a core issue because loneliness has a paralysing effect on us. And in order to shape the future of our planet we need everyone on board.’ ‘Wow! Wow! Wow! Can you give our viewers one example of a Press Pause loneliness event?’ ‘My favourite event, today, is lowkey and takes place in various locations in London and in other UK cities. At each location, a visitor finds a pop-up garden with seven tents in a curving line, plus resting places and food stops in between. When you enter the area, you leave your phone behind, arrive, settle in. If you like, you can take a shower, dress in something fresh, or use other rituals for arrival and entering, or for preparing your mind to explore. When you are ready, you choose which tent to enter. Each tent offers guided meditations, story sessions, and discourses on specific questions. Not all at once but recurring. You could for example start with a meditation in tent one to explore what loneliness is. Directly afterwards or after a break, you could enter tent two when their story session begins and dig deeper into your own experiences of loneliness by inventing stories. If you are a story person, you might go on directly to tent three’s story session and invent stories of how you would break out of this or that lonely situation. Maybe after that, you need a longer break, eat something, indulge in a massage or have a conversation with a therapist. When you are ready to reenter, you might want to return to the meditations and enter tent four for a meditation on: What kinds of loneliness have you noticed in people close to us? For tent five you could choose another story session, this time on: How can you address loneliness in people close to you? In tent six, you might meditate on: What kinds of loneliness have you witnessed in wider society? And after another break, you are ready for your first discourse, and you enter the final tent, tent seven, and join the discourse on how societies can be shaped in a way that loneliness can’t take root.’ ‘Quintessa, I’ve been wondering all morning which events to visit after my show. I think, I might try this one. Focus. Meditate. Discuss ways out. I love it. Quintessa, you are my final guest this morning. And it’s great to have you. Is there anything you’d like to say to my listeners?’ ‘Thank you, yes. Our campaigns address issues which are relevant for many people on our planet, and we hope that some of our ideas will inspire to take bold steps into a future that isn’t destructive and exploitative. But while we are spreading our wings far and wide, right now, here in London, here in the UK, we need the public’s support to encourage your government to let the town team go ahead with their project. With all the universal issues the campaigns address, someone might think: but what’s the use of a single town? To which I will say: in my opinion we have been ruled by opinions, believes, loud voices and fairy tales for far too long. The town is a microcosm where the project teams wants to find out how a different economic system can work, what coexisting with nature can look like, how communities can thrive, how to compose a town which connects by design, not just in theory, not just according to the accounts of historians, but in a real town with real people. And we don’t have to wait for the town or the experiments to be completed. The town project people have already brought up many crucial issues by planning the town, by asking questions, by devising their experiments. This town is a fantastic way to gain actual proof of what can work how. No more empty promises. No more lies. No more interest groups. You, the public can tell your MPs that you are curious, that you want a future that is guided by evidence not by ideology, not by the past, not by lobbyists. You can tell your MPs that you want a future for people and planet not for a few misguided exploiters. Thank you.’ ‘I thank you, Quintessa. I am for the town. My show is for the town. And I hope to see you back on the show. Dear listeners, this is it from me, this morning. It’s been a ride. Inspiration. Heartbreak. Fighting Spirit! Have a fantastic day! Go out! Find an event that speaks to you. Get involved. Let’s make this town happen. Let’s be inspired not to accept the status quo but to become shapers ourselves. This is Phoenix Dragonfly, and this was Dragonfly Time. Over and out.’ At the same time, on Trafalgar Square, a huge breakfast with buffets, and groups sitting on cushions or on the fountains’ basins, was underway, and the Mayor of London suppressed a grimace when he saw one of his assistants approach. ‘Excuse me, mayor. Erm … There are appointments … I mean, you said you just wanted to take a look at the meditations. I mean this morning. Like four hours ago. I mean—’ ‘—Believe me, I know what you mean,’ the mayor interrupted. ‘I’m sure you also mean that it’d be of no use to leave now since I also said that I’d attend the memorial at noon.’ ‘Yes. But—’ ‘—Adams! I appreciate you concern. But could you for a moment open that brilliant mind of yours and consider that I am a human being, that I might relate to the tragedy of loneliness, and that it is indeed in the interest of the Mayor of London to find inspirations on how to make loneliness a thing of the past, and that doing a meditation and a yoga session with the people of my city, connecting to the people of my city at this breakfast is actually one way of addressing loneliness?’ ‘Erm …’ Adams returned, blushing. ‘I thought so. We’re staying. Anything urgent I’ll deal with after the memorial. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to grab another coffee and chat with the people of London.’ Not far away two old man sat on a bench, their hands on their canes, eyes squinted, watching the mayor. ‘It’s really him, isn’t it?’ ‘I guess so. Never saw the man in my life, except on paper. Never in three dimensions. Looks OK doesn’t he?’ The other man nodded. ‘He does that. He did the yoga, too. That was funny.’ ‘You think that was him?’ ‘Oh, yes. He looked funny. Never does that on paper. Suits him. You know about the showers.’ ‘What showers?’ ‘The tents next to the National Gallery. They have showers.’ ‘Oh?’ ‘So I’m thinking. Do you think that’s a way of saying that people who come to the breakfast should take a shower before eating.’ ‘Are you saying I stink?’ ‘No! I was just wondering. Erm … Do I stink?’ The other man leaned towards his friend and sniffed. ‘Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it stink, more like a character note.’ ‘The whiff of age?’ ‘That’s what we’ll tell any bugger who says otherwise. Shall we grab some of those sandwiches at the buffet over there. They have coffee, too.’ ‘So, no shower then?’ ‘Nah, we’ll be fine.’ While the event on Trafalgar Square had gone from meditation to yoga to breakfast with thousands of people attending, the international political stage was stuck in kindergarten, outrage dominating the scenes because China, Romania, Russia, Turkey, India, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil had offered the town project sites to build the town. The US, the UK and Europe countered this move with accusations of emboldening the enemies of democracy. Meanwhile Canada and New Zealand were rather relaxed and signalled that they contemplated making an offer, too, while Australia and Japan exchanged thoughts on which position they might take. Alice shook her head as she listened to Any, head of THE. ‘It’s not about us, is it?’ Any shrugged. ‘I doubt it. I think it’s a reaction to the US’s threats to raise tariffs. But it might also be some sort of playing safe. Your campaigns are resonating with people across the globe, and the events here in the UK are growing, more events and more people participating. It’s also possible that some countries side with your project in case the UK gives you permission to build the town.’ Alice grimaced. ‘I’ll never tire of repeating that I hate these games. Do you think I can ignore them?’ ‘For now, yes. But you need to reinforce your defences with regard to the Hub and the Project Bank. Their independence from the markets, from the influences of governments, from the influences of giant corporations and oligarchs is a thorn in their sides. My people are in touch with your Alert Team on this, and they are doing a good job, but you should keep an eye on that, too.’ Alice nodded and said: ‘Some of the people I met last night remarked on that, too.’ ‘Oh. I haven’t listened to the recordings, yet. Anything interesting at your secret meetings?’ ‘Not really. A few whispered encouragements to keep going. And some jovial “I’ll watch you.” But nothing else. It’s a strange world, these privileged people. Doesn’t feel real to me. More like inventions for a TV series. And not for a particularly good shows.’ The memorial for Londoners who died of loneliness left no one unmoved and many were in tears as people read the names of the dead, shared memories and accounts of their helplessness. Strings with images of young and old victims went up across the square, shoes of those lost were placed on the steps of the National Gallery, candles were lit, silence was broken  by the next list of names, flower boxes floated in the fountains’ waters. Visibly shaken, a reporter appeared on the screen. ‘So many lives lost. So many! This is an incredible event, reminding us that we are human and that every life matters, and that our world allowed this to happen, that our world as it is makes us sick.’ Not far away another reporter looked more composed. ‘The memorial for Londoners lost to loneliness is deeply moving. Remarkably no religious groups have been invited to take a role in this memorial. With me now is Navarro Duarte, a member of the Campaigns and Negotiations Team. Navarro, some people might be concerned that you banned religions from this event.’ Navarro (society) smiled a little. ‘We wanted to offer an event that is about people for people, about coming together, about grieving together.’ ‘Don’t religions help us to grieve?’ Navarro put his head to the side. ‘I’m uncertain about that. And like I said, today is about people for people, regardless of who they are, regardless of what they believe, simply for and with people who are affected by loneliness. We chose a civil memorial to keep the focus on those who are lost and those who grieve.’ ‘But you banned religions.’ ‘Are you banning a potato by not adding it to the vegetable stew? No, you just decide that today is not the time of the potato. Today, it’s all carrots.’ When the Campaigns & Negotiations Team returned from the memorial, Alice and Raiden withdrew to Alice’s office and played through scenarios to identify issues where the project and the UK government might need to draw clearly defined lines with regard to building and running the town and regarding the experiments. In the middle of their work, they got the news that all project businesses had completed their preparations for the beginning of the building phase. By then Trafalgar Square had experienced another transformation. The photos, shoes and flowers were still in place, and dot.workshops, style tents and more shower tents had popped up, and a mile of hot tubs and saunas led from the square to the Thames and further along the river. Some hours later, gongs sounded across several cities and towns, calling strangers to join the various dancing and singing sessions, storytelling events or chilling spots. In London a series of gongs ran through parts of the city like beacon fires, announcing the completion of the web of tables, and the beginning of the most extraordinary dinner London had ever seen. ‘Loneliness has little chance when we stop rushing, hunting for achievements, and instead spend time with ourselves and with each other,’ one commentator on a similar event in Bristol remarked. In Boscastle a visitor to a choir session said to another: ‘Fancy a  beer? I know a good pub.’ ‘Sure, why not?’ In Edinburgh, another commentator, at a hospital event for family and friends of patients, said: sickness makes us lonely. Unless we build the kinds of communities again where we belong, where we are a clan, looking out for each other, all of us, unless that happens loneliness will keep getting the upper hand.’ In Belfast a sister told her sister at a street dinner table: ‘I love you! I’m sorry I haven’t told you before. I love you!’ and the sisters wept together. In Liverpool a visitor to a storytelling event told a reporter: ‘Domestic violence. When people unload their frustration and lash out, hurt those they are supposed to protect, that brings so much loneliness. The loneliness of the person who has lost control, the loneliness of the survivor, the silence of those who helplessly or deliberately look away. You know, that’s what I take from today, unless we tackle our wounds, our frustration heads-on, we’ll essentially always be lonely.’ In Uig a fisherman wrote: ‘I thought I was never lonely. But that dinner we all had together today, at the harbour. That was something else. Something else.’ In Swansea a commentator on today’s events wrote: ‘Who benefits from loneliness? It’s the warmongers, the moneymakers, those who exploit. Why? Because loneliness keeps us divided. Divided we have little power. We are stronger together. Conquering loneliness means coming together as community and standing up for who we are and for each other.’ At midnight the open-air event A MILLION STORIES at Wembley closed with a world record of 1,639,447 story snippets with visions of how to shape a world where solitude has its place but loneliness can’t take root. ‘Boo-yah!’ Nona shouted into the night, high-fiving with her fellow writers. ‘I knew we could do it! I knew it! Let’s break this record!’ ‘What? Now? Can’t we enjoy this one for a bit?’ a friend asked. ‘Nope!’ Nona returned. ‘We don’t have any time to lose. Our world needs some major rethinks. Stories can help. Imagine authors, storytellers, creators from around the world bent their minds on shaping a world that thrives. Imagine the visions that can fill us and give us the courage and energy to say: ‘Oh, wow. I never expected to live in key moments. But I am. And I can be part of turning the key, of opening new doors, of getting us out of the horrors we inflicted upon each other and the planet.’ ‘Every writer on the planet?’ Nona nodded. ‘Everyone with a sliver of imagination. The more minds the better because change starts in the mind.’

© Charlie Alice Raya, book 4, building, 2025