The Egret

Ren Powell's new blog is up and worth your visit. She's included her upcoming PEN Club speech in the blog, drawing logically keen and scary ramifications on the use and abuse of language in a world where terrorism and terror have become weapons. Here's an excerpt:

I am talking about the definition that is not noted in the dictionary: the quality that makes translation so demanding, that makes it an art rather than a science. It is also the quality that makes it so easy for individuals, governments and media to misdirect the attention of their audience: a linguistic sleight of hand. Words laden with emotion are the political illusionist’s tools: they can make things appear as they are not; they can make things and people and opinions disappear.

Ren is presenting as a member of ICORN (International Cities of Refuge Network). The group acts as a channel for writers by connecting them with censor-free cities where they can do their work.

Check her out.