Backlight 2024

After decades of globalization, many industries have disappeared from Europe, but shipbuilder Royal Bodewes on the Winschoterdiep has been keeping its head above water for more than 200 years. It is even building a ship for an Asian customer. Made for Taiwan, instead of in Taiwan. Have the roles been reversed? Employees from all over the world work in shifts to build five ships at the same time. The company does everything slightly differently and is averse to fuss. A new generation is ready to take over the family business: sisters Nienke and Carlijn Bodewes are determined not to be the last generation to keep the company afloat.

There is now so much clothing in the world that the next six generations can be clothed with it. Four pioneers want to improve the unruly clothing industry. Annemieke Koster produces new textiles from local, recycled fibers and discarded textiles. Caterina Occhio tries to make luxury brands such as Chloe, Armani and Aspesi more sustainable and more social. Lara Wolters has been advocating in the European Parliament for more transparent production chains for almost five years. Ex-fast fashion influencer Sara Dubbeldam sued Primark for misleading advertising.

What should progressive Europe do with the big move to the right? How is it possible that the words used by the international right-wing nationalist movement are so similar to those of progressives? Publicist and political activist Naomi Klein delved into the world of conspiracy theorists and the extreme right following a case of mistaken identity. She wrote the 'self-examination' book Doppelganger, a journey to the mirror world about it. She explores that mirror world and our political future.

What is going on with our education? The need for tutoring and homework help is greater than ever. Does this create a new gap and greater inequality of opportunity in society? Parents, education experts and activists are looking for a better future for our education. Louisa Boulkhrif and dozens of volunteers run a large tutoring school in Rotterdam for children whose parents have little money. Education activist Sezgin Cihangir is director of the Netherlands Mathematical Institute, which offers its own method for, among other things, arithmetic and language. He advocates making almost all forms of tutoring redundant.