Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 1d

“The events related to direct solidarity are always the most important for us, because they further demonstrate the power of music. That's the music we love: the music that unites people from the East to the West.”

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 1d

“We can't wait to return to Stroud. Last year was wonderful, and this year will be even better,” says singer Elisa Dixon. “We return to Stroud with great enthusiasm, a new album and a great desire to have fun and entertain, in the name of solidarity.”

A woman with short dark hair and stylish black sunglasses smiles at the camera. She has her arms folded and is wearing a black t-shirt with an illustration of woman with a 'suedehead' hairstyle - the t-shirt is a band t-shirt and the illustration is of the woman herself. Accompanying the picture is a quote attributed to Elisa: "Music has always been an important vehicle of resistance and criticism of fascism. Today, more than ever, as our musical masters — The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat, The Clash etc. — taught us, we must turn up the volume on our radios, our amplifiers, our microphones to spread the music of unity and freedom everywhere."

“Music is the Key to Radical Resistance” — Los Fastidios

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 1d

MUSIC IS THE KEY TO RADICAL RESISTANCE
TIM LEZARD | STROUD LOVE MUSIC / HATE RACISM
OCTOBER 2025

As Italian Ska Punk renegades LOS FASTIDIOS prepare to return to Stroud to play at the Prince Albert on Monday October 27, Tim Lezard catches up with Elisa and Enrico in Verona.

Italian anti-fascist ska punk heroes Los Fastidios are returning to Stroud this month for what promises to be a second sold-out gig in two years.

I blinked through the sunlight dancing in the trees, feeling, in that moment, at one with the world. Until I saw it. There, attached to a pole on a caravan, flapping in the cool breeze like a sharp sl...

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Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 6d

Illustration by JOE MAGEE

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 6d

COMMON GROUND
OCTOBER 2025
NIKKI OWEN

I blinked through the sunlight dancing in the trees, feeling, in that moment, at one with the world. Until I saw it. There, attached to a pole on a caravan, flapping in the cool breeze like a sharp slap: an England flag.

amplifystroud.com/common-ground/

Common Ground

Gloucester Welcomes Refugees

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Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 14d

GLOUCESTER WELCOMES REFUGEES
In the wake of anti-refugee protests outside the Ibis hotel in Gloucester, an upcoming gathering in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers is planned for Sunday 5 October.

amplifystroud.com/gloucester-w...

A peaceful, non-confrontational gathering will be held in Gloucester on Sunday 5 October to show support for people seeking asylum and challenge attempts to stoke division and racism.

Stop Rosebank — More than just a Bad Deal for the UK

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Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 25d

STOP ROSEBANK
Our latest piece from writer Kamal Longia

amplifystroud.com/stop-roseban...

At 500m barrels, Rosebank is the UK's largest undeveloped oil field. It lies about 80 miles north-west of Shetland. The Norwegian Energy giant Equinor has partnered with Israeli owned Ithaca Energy to...

I have now been a journalist for 40 years. The forces ranged against my profession have never been so powerful | George Monbiot

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · 26d

Wise words from @georgemonbiot.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Once, I believed that humanity’s problem was an information deficit. Now, I know you can’t speak truth to power if power controls your words, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Sep 11

Note - it's 12 / 13 September

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Sep 10

A woman smiles to camera. She has brownish shoulder-length hair and oval glasses with a dark frame. She wears a blue and grey scarf. Overlaid on a pink block is the following text: With a packed schedule of talks, workshops, and socials, it's a timely gathering for anyone interested in building resilient, equitable futures amid ongoing social and environmental challenges.   Simon Opher, Pam Warhurst,  Indy Johar,  Andy Goldring , Tony Cealy,  Jess Steele, Jem Bendell,  Matthew Slater, Sue Bell,  Dil Green, Tom Woodroof , Zoë Blackler

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Sep 10

A bearded man in a check shirt stands giving a presentation. Overlaid on a pink background is the following information: Stroud Festival of Commoning  14 / 15 September Lansdown Hall & Centre for Science & Art  “Bringing together thinkers, activists, and practitioners from across the UK and beyond, the event promises a deep dive into how communities can reclaim power through shared resources, innovative governance, and mutual support.”   Article by Chikara Shimasaki

Stroud Festival of Commoning - a weekend of collaborative ideas and action

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Sep 10

DATELINE: 10 SEPTEMBER
TITLE: STROUD FESTIVAL OF COMMONING
WRITER: CHIKARA SHIMASAKI

Chik breaks down the Festival of Commoning taking place in Stroud on 14 / 15 September.

amplifystroud.com/stroud-festi...

Stroud becomes a hub for rethinking community, economy, and democracy this September.

amplifystroud.com/at-the-rate-...

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Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Sep 1

At the rate journalists are being killed in Gaza by the Israeli army, there will soon be no one left to keep you informed.

Hundreds of media outlets, brought together by the campaigning platform Avaaz and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), are waging a campaign calling for the protection of Palestinian journalists in Gaza, ...

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Jun 30

SUPPORT NEW INDEPENDENT WRITING
Amplify Stroud is free for everyone.

Subscribing shows us the strength of your support.

Upgrading to ‘Paid’ enables us to invest in our writing and to develop more stories and local commentary as it happens.

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Jun 30

“And particularly, I'm fed up with certain leaders of the Orthodox conservative Jewish tradition who claim to speak on behalf of the whole Jewish community. I am not alone in this.”

— Colin Levine from Na'amod Gloucestershire

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Jun 30

“I've felt that it's important for me to identify as a Jew who feels this way, rather than simply as a person who feels this way, because I think Jewish people are generally perceived as supportive of Israel, and if we don't say anything, then that's what people will assume.

Pictured is a man wearing a red beanie hat, a reddish-orange scarf and small black round glasses. He is holding a large banner which is charcoal coloured and has the word Na'amod written on it in yellow, along with the tagline "UK Jews against occupation & apartheid"

Overlaid on a pink background are the following words: Na'amod - “We Stand” exists to bring about change within the Jewish community in Britain.

Local activist Jeremy Green interviews Colin Levine from the recently formed Na'amod Gloucestershire branch to get his perspectives on the Jewish campaigning organisation that is calling for an end to the Occupation and Apartheid.

Local activist Jeremy Green interviews Colin Levine from the Gloucestershire branch of Na'amod to get his perspectives.

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · Jun 30

amplifystroud.com/introducing-...
Introducing Na'amod
June 2025

Na'amod is a growing movement of British Jews that openly rejects the narrative of complete unswerving support for Israel. Na'amod is calling for an end to the Occupation and an end to the practice of Apartheid by the State of Israel.

Introducing Na’amod

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Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · May 30

Nick Hayes is the co-founder of the Right to Roam campaign and author of The Book of Trespass.

It’s part history, part nature diary and spans several centuries of land rights in the UK.

This potent mixture of topics and styles made reading it feel as easy as a glass of cold water on a hot day.

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · May 30

“Between Emma’s down to earth humour and Nick’s relaxed and impish charisma, it’s a highly entertaining and informative hour. There’s no pretentiousness here, and I was immediately drawn to the way that Nick talks about the outdoors.”

“We need our farmers to be artists” — Nick Hayes and Emma Kernahan

Amplify Stroud @amplifystroud.com · May 30

“WE NEED OUR FARMERS TO BE ARTISTS” — Nick Hayes & Emma Kernahan at NeoAncients

“IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OF a moment for me to cover a conversation between Emma Kernahan and Nick Hayes at day two of the NeoAncients festival 2025 on a sunny weekend in Stroud.”

— Roma Robinson | The RYSE

IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING OF a moment for me to cover a conversation between Emma Kernahan and Nick Hayes at day two of the NeoAncients festival 2025 on a sunny weekend in Stroud.