Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Mark Robins

Emma Calvert @emmacalvert.bsky.social · 1h

Something so singularly depressing to be out of the Brussels bubble for 3 months, to now see that *this* is what has been occupying our decision-makers' time...

The planet burns and we're talking about whether a veggie sausage can be called a sausage, my god...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘Veggie burgers’ could be off EU menu as MEPs back renaming plant-based foods

Proponents say move would strengthen position of farmers in supply chain but critics dismiss it as ‘hotdog populism’

www.theguardian.com

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Helen Shaw - Athena Media @athenamediaie.bsky.social · 1h

Shocking description of how Greta Thunberg was assaulted, abused and ill-treated during her detainment - They tried hard to break her - particularly as a young woman. If they do this to her imagine what they do to Palestinians? Greta should get the Nobel next year
www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/25...

Greta Thunberg: “They kicked me every time the flag touched my face”

– Greta Thunberg on her days in Israeli captivity Beating, kicking, and threats of being gassed in cages. Greta Thunberg and several others from the flotilla ar

www.aftonbladet.se

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Oliver @oliver48.bsky.social · 22h

Trump's 'achievement'
is providing Israel with $billions arms
to aid & abet genocide, ethnic cleansing,
& multiple war crimes
as 30,000+ Palestinian children
were killed by bombs, sniping & starvation
while blocking numerous peace plans
until advisors said 'peace-maker' PR
would counter unpopularity

Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot @bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · 5d

Keir Starmer praises Donald Trump over role in Gaza ceasefire deal

The UK "played an important part behind the scenes" and had seen Trump's efforts, the PM says.

www.bbc.com

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Mark Robins @byhedge.bsky.social · 1h

Most moral army! 🤮

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 12h

“I was hung from the metal shackles on my wrists and ankles and beaten in the stomach, back, face, ear and skull by a group of men and women guards, one of whom sat on my neck and face, blocking my airways…Our cell was awoken with threats of rape.”

Crickets from the State Department. Awful.

Journalist Abducted by Israel Says She Was Tortured in Israeli Custody

A journalist who was abducted by Israeli forces last week as she accompanied a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid vessel says she was tortured in Israeli custody alongside activists seeking to break Israel’s...

www.democracynow.org

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Ruth @poofer.bsky.social · 21h

That's the truth right there 👊💙

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Roger Hallam @rogerhallam.com · 5h

Let's be brutally honest with ourselves - modern capitalism is forcing us to work for an economic system which is going to destroy the country - literally.

The message is keep calm and betray your children.

rogerhallam.com/voting-isnt-...

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David Wearing @davidwearing.bsky.social · 6h

It's long past time to tackle the British arms industry. I didn't say it on the podcast, but how about a punitive windfall tax on UK arms manufacturers to fund a British reparations scheme for Gaza and Yemen?

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 22h

Ep.3 of the New Economics Podcast is out now!

Ayeisha Thomas-Smith is joined by Khem Rogaly from @transitionsec.bsky.social @cmmonwealth.bsky.social and @davidwearing.bsky.social from Sussex University to discuss how the UK became a global arms dealer.

🎧Listen now: neweconomics.org/2025/10/how-...

New Economics Podcast.
How did the UK become a global arms dealer?
Khem Rogaly, Common Wealth, Transition Security Project.
David Wearing, University of Sussex.
Out now.

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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 21h

BREAKING: Shabana Mahmood announces that immigrants will have to recite Beowulf in its entirety in Old English, without notes, before being allowed entry to the U.K.

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Luna @howlingbluewolf.bsky.social · 6h

Some good news for our beautiful earthe.

Ariaa® @ariaa.bsky.social · 1d

Iceland canceled its 2025 whaling season, sparing hundreds of fin whales. Iceland’s only active whaling company, Hvalur said it would not participate in the summer whaling season for the 2nd year in a row due to low demand and financial concerns. Wish it was about conservation but I'll take it!

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Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 5h

This from the International Renewable Energy Agency is pretty mindblowing compared to a decade ago

www.irena.org/-/media/File...

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Son of Eric @spiritof44.bsky.social · 1d

Emily Maitlis has told @lbc.co.uk that she believes that Prince Andrew is the "tip of the iceberg" of public figures who will see their careers destroyed by association with Jeffrey Epstein.

#EpsteinTrumpFiles #SexualPredatorTrump #PrincePaedophile

www.lbc.co.uk/article/prin...

Prince Andrew is 'tip of the Epstein iceberg,' The News Agents host Emily Maitlis tells LBC | LBC

The veteran broadcaster told Shelagh Fogarty that she believes many more public figures will see careers destroyed by association with Epstein

www.lbc.co.uk

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Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 16h

Important thread that *every* Irish environmentalist should read before voting in the presidential election.

In short: Humphreys was just as disastrous for the environment as she was on social policy.

Rob @robosullivan.bsky.social · 1d

Let's explore the Green credentials of Heather Humphreys - The woman former GP member Brian Leddin thinks should be president.
She advocated for an increased burn period during her time as Minister for Heritage, as well as prolonging the period during which hedgerows could be cut. #Spéirgorm 1/n

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Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 16h

"The case is proceeding."

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa says the US-backed agreement to end Israel's war on Gaza will have no bearing on his country’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/xhyzpq

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Yale Climate Connections @climateconnections.bsky.social · 17h

Trump’s Department of Energy misleadingly suggests that higher CO2 levels are beneficial for agriculture. Top scientists – and decades of research – say that’s wrong.

The reality: Extreme weather caused by rising CO2 damages harvests and could drive up food prices worldwide.

Fact-checking a Trump administration claim about climate change and crops » Yale Climate Connections

A recent Department of Energy report falsely states that rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will boost agricultural yields. In fact, climate change is much more likely to make food scarcer and more expensive.

yaleclimateconnections.org

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Dr Charlie Gardner @charliejgardner.bsky.social · 1d

Just astonishing how much focus there is on planting trees to hopefully create new forests for the future

And all the while the plunder and destruction of our actual, existing forests just carries on worsening

This is horrific news

‘Dismal’ health of world’s forests is threat to humanity, report warns

Financial institutions pouring money into land clearance and undermining efforts to stop destruction, says Climate Focus

www.theguardian.com

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Anna Pringle @annapr.bsky.social · 1d

Great thread here, shows the ‘green record’ of Heather Humphreys.

Is this what ‘pro business’ means?

#Aras25 #SpeirGorm

Rob @robosullivan.bsky.social · 1d

Let's explore the Green credentials of Heather Humphreys - The woman former GP member Brian Leddin thinks should be president.
She advocated for an increased burn period during her time as Minister for Heritage, as well as prolonging the period during which hedgerows could be cut. #Spéirgorm 1/n

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Reposted by Mark Robins

Paul Price @swimsure.bsky.social · 1d

The "scientific report" underpinning this New Zealand decision is a travesty.
-Makes false assumption p.28 that limiting to 1.5ºC global warming can be achieved via merely reaching climate neutrality ('no additional warming').
-And allows 1.5ºC failure scenarios.
environment.govt.nz/assets/publi...

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Connolly for President @catherinegalway.bsky.social · 1d

There has never been a more important time to elect a President who will be independent of Government.

A President who will represent Ireland with pride, courage, and integrity.

On 24th October, vote for a strong voice, independent of Government.

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RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 1d

The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross are calling for all crossings into Gaza to be opened to allow desperately needed aid into the war-torn Palestinian territory

Calls for opening of all Gaza crossings to allow in aid

The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross are calling for all crossings into Gaza to be opened to allow desperately needed aid into the war-torn Palestinian territory.

www.rte.ie

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 1d

In any discussion of food and farming, unless your solution can be scaled to feed 8 billion people, you shouldn't be taken seriously. Unfortunately, cottagecore fantasies that would feed only the richest consumers, leaving billions to starve, are all too common.
www.monbiot.com/2023/10/04/t...

The Cruel Fantasies of Well-Fed People

The astonishing story of how a movement’s quest for rural simplicity drifted into a formula for mass death

www.monbiot.com

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Mark Robins @byhedge.bsky.social · 1d

‘Fifteen years of decline’ …. in our water quality.

A BIG FAIL by FF/FG governments…

They don’t give a shi*e…

Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) @swanireland.ie · 1d

EPA Report Shows Much Stronger Action is Needed on Water Quality - SWAN

"Despite government rhetoric, the real improvements needed to restore our rivers, lakes, and seas to good health just aren’t happening after over fifteen years of decline."

swanireland.ie/2025/10/epa-...

EPA Report Shows Much Stronger Action is Needed on Water Quality - Sustainable Water Network

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN), a coalition of twenty-five of Ireland’s leading environmental organisations working on water, has responded to today’s EPA Water Quality report [1] with deep conc...

swanireland.ie

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Reposted by Mark Robins

John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @thinkorswim.bsky.social · 1d

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
― George Orwell

www.axios.com/2025/10/14/t...

Biden, Clinton praise Trump for Gaza peace deal

Biden said he commends Trump and his team, and Clinton said they "deserve great credit."

www.axios.com

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Pádraic Fogarty @whittledaway.bsky.social · 1d

Half of Ireland's waterways in bad shape despite years of hand-wringing and intensive meetings... what's going wrong?

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Half of Ireland’s rivers, lakes and estuaries in unhealthy state as standards slide again

Agriculture, sewage, chemicals and physical damage all threatening nature’s waterways

www.irishtimes.com

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Duroyan Fertl ᚇᚓᚑᚏᚐᚇᚐᚅ @dfertl.bsky.social · 1d

#MicheálMartin: “I don't think we can mitigate for #climatechange”:
www.independent.ie/business/tec...
For Martin (an unmitigated opportunist & cynical coward) #climateaction is too “polarising”
In his own words at COP27:
"future generations will not forgive us”
#SpéirGorm
www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

Taoiseach says some climate projects will not be fulfilled because they risk polarising society

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rowed back on climate change commitments, saying Ireland may not be able fulfil all current initiatives due to the polarising effect it could have on society.

www.independent.ie

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Mark Robins @byhedge.bsky.social · 1d

I think I’ve seen something strong on climate action from Connolly but she should be clearer and stronger.

I suspect Humphreys wouldn’t know climate action unless it hit her in the face.