Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rob Phair

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 4h

In her monumental work, Darya Tsymbalyuk insists the world must reckon with the full cost of the destruction in Ukraine — not just in hectares lost or tons of grain burned, but in the severed roots that once tied generations to the land they called home.

New book exposes Russia’s ecocide as a war against Ukraine’s land – and memory

When Russia destroyed Ukraine’s Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam in June 2023, unleashing catastrophic floods across the country’s south, it seemed like such a blatant act of environmental and humanitarian ...

kyivindependent.com

6 69 200

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 17h

Meanwhile, the #TourDownUnder - previously Australia’s premier #cycling race - is still sponsored by #Santos.

#sapol #sportswashing @sarahhansonyoung.bsky.social @christinemilne.bsky.social

www.greenpeace.org.au/article/sant...

Santos Tour Down Under: Why fossil fuel companies should be best known for their pollution, not their sponsorships - Greenpeace Australia Pacific

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Santos? If you’re a cycling fan or an Adelaide local, it might be the Tour Down Under –…

www.greenpeace.org.au

Reposted by Rob Phair

Market Forces @marketforces.org.au · 13d

Macquarie has betrayed investors and its climate commitments by continuing to support one of Australia's biggest proposed gas developments.

Join the campaign to stop Australia becoming a fracking hellscape. Tell Macquarie to stop financing Beetaloo: marketforces.org.au/beetaloo

Emissions from the Beetaloo sub-Basin would be equivalent to running Australia's largest coal-fired power station, Eraring, for another 83 years.

11 12

Reposted by Rob Phair

Market Forces @marketforces.org.au · 7d

Woodside's Browse LNG project doesn't stack up environmentally and there's growing questions over the project's economics 👇
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Financial analysts cast doubt on mega Woodside gas project

The Browse gas project is staring down the full weight of Australia's climate movement. Analysts say that is the least of its worries.

www.abc.net.au

5 4

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 1d

#Russia

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 2d

The RU defense industry is implementing long term efforts to increase T-90 tank production and recreate RU’s pre-war tank reserves, indicating that RU intends to present a long term military threat to NATO. (1/5)

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 11, 2025: isw.pub/UkrWar101125

Reposted by Rob Phair

Nicolas Tenzer @nicolastenzer.bsky.social · 7d

Nineteen years ago, on October 7, 2006, Anna Politkovskaya was assassinated by Putin's hitmen.
She was the first to tell the truth about Russia's mass crimes in Chechnya, which foreshadowed those in Syria, Ukraine, Africa and elsewhere. They could have been prevented.
Almost no one listened to her.

15 280 590

Reposted by Rob Phair

Jess Davis @jessmarindavis.bsky.social · 4d

😏

Thiel said: "“It’s become quite difficult to hide one’s money...An incredible machinery of tax treaties, financial surveillance, and sanctions architecture has been constructed.”"

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

Inside billionaire Peter Thiel’s private lectures: Warnings of ‘the Antichrist’ and U.S. destruction

In leaked recordings of private lectures by tech billionaire Peter Thiel he argued that “the Antichrist” is likely to take the form of a critic of technology.

www.washingtonpost.com

9 23 88

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 3d

#MAGA #PublicHealth

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 3d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

1 1

Reposted by Rob Phair

the Juice Media @thejuicemedia.com · 4d

The Government of New Zealand has made a new tourism ad and it's surprsingly honest and informative!

Honest Government Ad | Visit New Zealand!

YouTube video by thejuicemedia

www.youtube.com

51 430 850

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 4d

#Straya #gambling #auspol @docsamantha.bsky.social

Nicole @coleym64.bsky.social · 4d

On Monday, the ABC's storied investigative program 4 Corners completely pole-axed the online bookmakers.

On Wednesday, Alexi Baker, the partner of new ABC managing director Hugh Marks, decides its a good idea to join the BETR board.

Only in Australia

x.com/maynereport/...

Stephen Mayne on X: "On Monday, the ABC's storied investigative program 4 Corners completely pole-axed the online bookmakers. On Wednesday, Alexi Baker, the partner of new ABC managing director Hugh Marks, decides its a good idea to join the BETR board. Only in Australia https://t.co/XcLBtHnQx1" / X

On Monday, the ABC's storied investigative program 4 Corners completely pole-axed the online bookmakers. On Wednesday, Alexi Baker, the partner of new ABC managing director Hugh Marks, decides its a good idea to join the BETR board. Only in Australia https://t.co/XcLBtHnQx1

x.com

1

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 4d

That smell isn’t going away
#gambling #integrity
@albomp.bsky.social

4

Reposted by Rob Phair

Judah Grunstein @judah-grunstein.bsky.social · 4d

Morning soundtrack.

What's fascinating is how this record's two "social landscape" songs reflect the two contradictory tropes about small-town and rural America: the frustrated wanderlust born of rural isolation, and the frustrated resignation born of rural decline.

Here's isolation.

Someday

YouTube video by Steve Earle - Topic

www.youtube.com

1 1 15

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 4d

#ActiveTransport #Paris #cycling

Ingwar Perowanowitsch @ingwarpero.bsky.social · 4d

Oben: Die Rue de Rivoli in Paris heute.
Unten: Die Rue de Rivoli 1983.

Und nein, die Autos fahren nicht einfach woanders. Sie haben sich in Luft aufgelöst, weil die Autofahrer zu Fahrradfahrern geworden sind.

Liebe alles daran❤️

Reposted by Rob Phair

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 5d

Every time he does this a calculator somewhere in the country spontaneously bursts into flames

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Trump: "We're gonna be reducing the cost of medicines by 100%, 200%, 300%, 500% and even more than that."

120 290 2.1K

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 5d

Despite all the evidence on #gambling harms, @australianlabor.bsky.social still embrace #gambling lobbyists.

No integrity or shame

#auspol @docsamantha.bsky.social @amyremeikis.bsky.social @albomp.bsky.social

Jessie L @jessielilley.bsky.social · 5d

“A Sportsbet employee was among a small group of donors who attended the “boardroom dinner” with the minister for regional development, Kristy McBain, on Tuesday night. The dinner was organised by Labor’s fundraising vehicle.”

All they care about is being elected and staying in power.

Sportsbet dines with government minister at Labor fundraiser despite calls to reject lobbying from industry

Exclusive: Earlier that day, four crossbench MPs held a press conference calling on government to ignore lobbying from gambling industry

www.theguardian.com

2 1 1

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 5d

@australianlabor.bsky.social just cannot resist #gambling lobbyist, isn’t that righ, @albomp.bsky.social?

@docsamantha.bsky.social

The Saturday Paper @thesaturdaypaper.com.au · 5d

A Sportsbet employee was among a small number of donors invited to a $3000-a-head fundraising dinner with Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain on Tuesday night. satpa.pe/vY4sAy1

Sportsbet attended Labor fundraiser

satpa.pe

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 5d

@australianlabor.bsky.social #Straya #auspol

marque lawyers @marquelawyers.com.au · 5d

Epic gaslighting by Labor - the Coalition is irrelevant, so choosing to negotiate with it is just political cover for failing to do the right thing

Watt nears deal with Coalition to finally overhaul environment laws

Environment Minister Murray Watt will sit down with his Liberal counterpart Angie Bell today, with quiet optimism in both parties that a deal might soon be struck to finally rewrite Australia's "broke...

www.abc.net.au

2 8

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 6d

#Germany @luecke69.bsky.social

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 6d

German auto summit tomorrow.

The sole focus on the EU combustion engine phase-out, which is 10 years away, is baffling because German cars have a demand problem today

Berlin worries a new EV subsidy scheme would be fiscally too expensive.

But demand-side support is a fiscal no-brainer here.

1/

1 1

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 6d

I guess just keep the “no” as low key as possible and keep offering adventurous Oz options

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 6d

did you discuss this with him?

www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations...

www.smartraveller.gov.au

1

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 6d

So much great bushwalking here … no need to go to PNG! As hard as he likes…

parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-...

South Coast Track | Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania

The South Coast Track is a challenging 6-8 day walk along Tasmania’s wild southern coastline. Wander windswept beaches, climb mountain ranges and wade (or row!) across rivers on this 85 km adventure.

parks.tas.gov.au

Reposted by Rob Phair

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 6d

CNN: “An older couple making $85K/year will see their yearly insurance premiums jump from $7K to $25,000 — 30% of their income.” 😳#TrumpShutdown #TrumpHealthCareTax

This is what Dems are drawing attention to and want fixed. Now, not later.

520 7.4K 15K

Rob Phair @robphair.bsky.social · 7d

#heat #mortality

Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · 8d

"...ambient temperature is among the largest external threats to human health, and is responsible for a remarkable 5-12% of total deaths across countries in our sample, or hundreds of thousands of deaths per year in both the U.S. and EU."
www.nber.org/papers/w34313

Understanding and Addressing Temperature Impacts on Mortality
Marshall Burke, Andrew J. Wilson, Tumenkhusel Avirmed, Jonas Wallstein, Mariana C. M. Martins, Patrick Behrer, Christopher W. Callahan, Marissa Childs, June Choi, Karina French, Carlos F. Gould, Sam Heft-Neal, Renzhi Jing, Minghao Qiu, Lisa Rennels, Emma Krasovich Southworth #34313

Abstract:
A large literature documents how ambient temperature affects human mortality. Using decades of detailed data from 30 countries, we revisit and synthesize key findings from this literature. We confirm that ambient temperature is among the largest external threats to human health, and is responsible for a remarkable 5-12% of total deaths across countries in our sample, or hundreds of thousands of deaths per year in both the U.S. and EU. In all contexts we consider, cold kills more than heat, though the temperature of minimum risk rises with age, making younger individuals more vulnerable to heat and older individuals more vulnerable to cold. We find evidence for adaptation to the local climate, with hotter places experiencing somewhat lower risk at higher temperatures, but still more overall mortality from heat due to more frequent exposure. Within countries, higher income is not associated with uniformly lower vulnerability to ambient temperature, and the overall burden of mo! rtality from ambient temperature is not falling over time. Finally, we systematically summarize the limited set of studies that rigorously evaluate interventions that can reduce the impact of heat and cold on health. We find that many proposed and implemented policy interventions lack empirical support and do not target temperature exposures that generate the highest health burden, and that some of the most beneficial interventions for reducing the health impacts of cold or heat have little explicit to do with climate.

Reposted by Rob Phair

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 7d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

130 5.3K 16K

Reposted by Rob Phair

Defakator (Officiel) 🧆 @defakator.bsky.social · 8d

Haddock : Quelle semaine, hein ?
Tintin : Capitaine, on est lundi, il est 10h

9 640 2.3K