Meera Shah
@meera-shah.bsky.social
Environmentalist, climate activist. Africa. Agriculture and food systems transformation and policy, adaptation, climate security. Wildlife. Rhinos. Bollywood. Books. Indian-Kenyan-British.
Pinned
Meera Shah
@meera-shah.bsky.social
· Jan 20
I hereby declare the USA a rogue state.
(To all my new American followers, sorry. But also, 😩)
(To all my new American followers, sorry. But also, 😩)
Reposted by Meera Shah
The good news? Small investments can trigger massive change. In the DR Congo—Africa’s most polluted country—local leaders have launched the nation's only fully open air quality network. As little as $50,000–$100,000 can provide the data needed to save lives and protect economies.
December 22, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The good news? Small investments can trigger massive change. In the DR Congo—Africa’s most polluted country—local leaders have launched the nation's only fully open air quality network. As little as $50,000–$100,000 can provide the data needed to save lives and protect economies.
Reposted by Meera Shah
I am hiring a post-doctoral fellow (2 years) to work on all things political finance in Africa. There are no teaching obligations, and lots of opportunities for fieldwork. A PhD in Political Science is a requirement. Please spread the word! Happy to answer questions - send them to my LSE email.
🚨We're #hiring!
We're looking for a #Research #Fellow to join our team. The successful candidate will be part of the research project "Political #Finance in #Africa" led by Associate Professor @sarahbrierley.bsky.social for 2 years.
🗓️Apply by Monday 12 January 👇🏽
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
We're looking for a #Research #Fellow to join our team. The successful candidate will be part of the research project "Political #Finance in #Africa" led by Associate Professor @sarahbrierley.bsky.social for 2 years.
🗓️Apply by Monday 12 January 👇🏽
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Research Fellow (Political Finance in Africa (POLFINA))
Research Fellow (Political Finance in Africa (POLFINA)),
,
<p style="background: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #333333;">LSE is committed to building a diverse, equi...
jobs.lse.ac.uk
December 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I am hiring a post-doctoral fellow (2 years) to work on all things political finance in Africa. There are no teaching obligations, and lots of opportunities for fieldwork. A PhD in Political Science is a requirement. Please spread the word! Happy to answer questions - send them to my LSE email.
Reposted by Meera Shah
“3C global warming sounds small, but it’s about half the difference between the middle of the last ice age and today”
November 5, 2025 at 1:56 AM
“3C global warming sounds small, but it’s about half the difference between the middle of the last ice age and today”
Reposted by Meera Shah
"This judgment rightly recognises that #SeedSharing is not a crime, but a fundamental element of peasants’ identity, #resilience and contribution to national #FoodSystems."
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Kenya’s seed sharing ruling a milestone for peasants’ rights and food security: UN experts
GENEVA – UN experts* today welcomed a landmark ruling of the High Court of Kenya declaring unconstitutional provisions of the Seed and Plant Varieties Act that criminalised the saving, use, exchange a...
www.ohchr.org
December 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM
"This judgment rightly recognises that #SeedSharing is not a crime, but a fundamental element of peasants’ identity, #resilience and contribution to national #FoodSystems."
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Reposted by Meera Shah
Genuine question: Why's the reaction of many politicians to AI 'it's transformational, we must go faster, we can dismiss concerns over energy, copyright, job losses', yet the reaction to a clean tech transition that's more advanced and has less overt downsides is 'steady now, we need to slow down'.
December 15, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Genuine question: Why's the reaction of many politicians to AI 'it's transformational, we must go faster, we can dismiss concerns over energy, copyright, job losses', yet the reaction to a clean tech transition that's more advanced and has less overt downsides is 'steady now, we need to slow down'.
Seems like a good day to re-up this.
I hereby declare the USA a rogue state.
(To all my new American followers, sorry. But also, 😩)
(To all my new American followers, sorry. But also, 😩)
December 10, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Seems like a good day to re-up this.
For someone who doesn't like Somalia much... sure has learnt lessons from its pirates 🏴☠️🦜
🤡
🤡
December 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
For someone who doesn't like Somalia much... sure has learnt lessons from its pirates 🏴☠️🦜
🤡
🤡
so... pirates of the Caribbean then? 🏴☠️
December 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
so... pirates of the Caribbean then? 🏴☠️
Reposted by Meera Shah
Comment in @nature.com: "Food will be more affordable — if we double funds for agriculture research now" www.nature.com/articles/d41...
A global drop in public and private investment in agricultural science in the past four decades is partly to blame for high food prices, an analysis reveals.
A global drop in public and private investment in agricultural science in the past four decades is partly to blame for high food prices, an analysis reveals.
Food will be more affordable — if we double funds for agriculture research now
A global drop in public and private investment in agricultural science in the past four decades is partly to blame for high food prices, an analysis reveals.
www.nature.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Comment in @nature.com: "Food will be more affordable — if we double funds for agriculture research now" www.nature.com/articles/d41...
A global drop in public and private investment in agricultural science in the past four decades is partly to blame for high food prices, an analysis reveals.
A global drop in public and private investment in agricultural science in the past four decades is partly to blame for high food prices, an analysis reveals.
Reposted by Meera Shah
There is one overriding political problem, from which all others follow. Until it is addressed, every policy advanced by governments is window dressing.
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
Just 0.001% hold three times the wealth of poorest half of humanity, report finds
Data from World Inequality Report also showed top 10% of income-earners earn more than the other 90%
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:09 AM
There is one overriding political problem, from which all others follow. Until it is addressed, every policy advanced by governments is window dressing.
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...
Reposted by Meera Shah
Staggering statistic on the health burden of phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides & “forever chemicals" in the FOOD SYSTEM. Mad
$2.2 trillion is about half the annual healthcare spend of the USA
There's also a further cost of approx $640bn ecological damage
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
$2.2 trillion is about half the annual healthcare spend of the USA
There's also a further cost of approx $640bn ecological damage
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Synthetic chemicals in food system creating health burden of $2.2tn a year, report finds
Scientists issue urgent warning about chemicals, found to cause cancer and infertility as well as harming environment
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Staggering statistic on the health burden of phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides & “forever chemicals" in the FOOD SYSTEM. Mad
$2.2 trillion is about half the annual healthcare spend of the USA
There's also a further cost of approx $640bn ecological damage
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
$2.2 trillion is about half the annual healthcare spend of the USA
There's also a further cost of approx $640bn ecological damage
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Meera Shah
If your government has a realistic plan in case of a sudden and massive disruption to fossil fuel supply (through war or otherwise):
It can probably use a lot of that plan now for the climate crisis.
If it doesn't have that plan:
It's probably failing on both counts.
It can probably use a lot of that plan now for the climate crisis.
If it doesn't have that plan:
It's probably failing on both counts.
November 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
If your government has a realistic plan in case of a sudden and massive disruption to fossil fuel supply (through war or otherwise):
It can probably use a lot of that plan now for the climate crisis.
If it doesn't have that plan:
It's probably failing on both counts.
It can probably use a lot of that plan now for the climate crisis.
If it doesn't have that plan:
It's probably failing on both counts.
"The Kenyan government and the DFC have inked a deal to swap $1 billion of debt in exchange for food security investments."
www.devex.com/news/kenya-l...
www.devex.com/news/kenya-l...
Kenya lands $1B debt-for-food swap with US DFC
The Kenyan government and the DFC have inked a deal to swap $1 billion of debt in exchange for food security investments.
www.devex.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM
"The Kenyan government and the DFC have inked a deal to swap $1 billion of debt in exchange for food security investments."
www.devex.com/news/kenya-l...
www.devex.com/news/kenya-l...
Reposted by Meera Shah
Alongside the word of the year we should have “the word that has lost the most of its meaning this year”. I nominate “ceasefire”.
December 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Alongside the word of the year we should have “the word that has lost the most of its meaning this year”. I nominate “ceasefire”.
Reposted by Meera Shah
Agricultural soil carbon sequestration gets a lot of attention but let’s not forget that the best way to keep carbon in soils is to stop further expansion of agriculture into natural ecosystems.
#WorldSoilDay
#WorldSoilDay
December 6, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Agricultural soil carbon sequestration gets a lot of attention but let’s not forget that the best way to keep carbon in soils is to stop further expansion of agriculture into natural ecosystems.
#WorldSoilDay
#WorldSoilDay
Woman wanted by Interpol over trafficking of tiger parts arrested in India
#wildlife #conservation #illegaltrade
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#wildlife #conservation #illegaltrade
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Woman wanted by Interpol for trafficking tiger parts arrested in India
Yangchen Lachungpa is accused of building trafficking corridors leading out of the country.
www.bbc.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Woman wanted by Interpol over trafficking of tiger parts arrested in India
#wildlife #conservation #illegaltrade
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#wildlife #conservation #illegaltrade
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Namibia loses bid to overturn ban on rhino horn trade www.bbc.com/news/article...
Namibia loses bid to overturn ban on rhino horn trade at Cites conference in Samarkand
Namibia has built up large stockpiles of rhino horn after pioneering the practice of cutting them off to deter poachers.
www.bbc.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Namibia loses bid to overturn ban on rhino horn trade www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Building resilience in drylands is not a technical fix. It requires flexibility, listening, and partnership over control and prescription." 🎯
#Pastoralism #Africa #pastoralists #resilience #agency
theconversation.com/africas-dryl...
#Pastoralism #Africa #pastoralists #resilience #agency
theconversation.com/africas-dryl...
Africa’s drylands need the right kind of support – listening to the pastoralists who live there
Africa’s drylands need support, but it shouldn’t overlook systems that people rely on.
theconversation.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:06 PM
"Building resilience in drylands is not a technical fix. It requires flexibility, listening, and partnership over control and prescription." 🎯
#Pastoralism #Africa #pastoralists #resilience #agency
theconversation.com/africas-dryl...
#Pastoralism #Africa #pastoralists #resilience #agency
theconversation.com/africas-dryl...
Reposted by Meera Shah
At some point you realize that the prominent, powerful people you see on your screens are mostly morons who either got lucky or are saying things billionaires want to hear, and that nobody smart or competent is in charge, and we're all just collectively flailing, and it's a miracle anything works.
The co-founder of Kalshi says: " The long-term vision is to financialize everything and create a tradable asset out of any difference in opinion."
December 4, 2025 at 6:34 AM
At some point you realize that the prominent, powerful people you see on your screens are mostly morons who either got lucky or are saying things billionaires want to hear, and that nobody smart or competent is in charge, and we're all just collectively flailing, and it's a miracle anything works.
Home grown school meals have become all the rage in recent times - there is no reason why this can't apply to restaurants, public procurement or any other local food consumption point.
theconversation.com/how-unsustai...
theconversation.com/how-unsustai...
How unsustainable global supply chains exacerbate food insecurity
The expansion of global food supply chains can reduce food security, while improving regional food systems can improve food security.
theconversation.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Home grown school meals have become all the rage in recent times - there is no reason why this can't apply to restaurants, public procurement or any other local food consumption point.
theconversation.com/how-unsustai...
theconversation.com/how-unsustai...
"For African countries, the path forward does not require choosing between tradition and innovation. Instead, it calls for leveraging the strengths of both to create solutions that are environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable."
#bioeconomy
farmingfirst.org/2025/12/the-...
#bioeconomy
farmingfirst.org/2025/12/the-...
The Bioeconomy Potential for Agricultural Innovation in Africa - Farming First
Centred around locally available resources, the bioeconomy could connect African farmers and investors through coordinated value chains.
farmingfirst.org
December 1, 2025 at 12:26 PM
"For African countries, the path forward does not require choosing between tradition and innovation. Instead, it calls for leveraging the strengths of both to create solutions that are environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable."
#bioeconomy
farmingfirst.org/2025/12/the-...
#bioeconomy
farmingfirst.org/2025/12/the-...
WTF
Are 16 days of activism against gender-based violence enough?
Our survey data suggest not, given how many Africans say men are "sometimes" or "always" justified in physically disciplining their wives.
Read our latest piece in @thecontinent.org for more.
#VoicesAfrica #16DaysOfActivism #StopGBV
Our survey data suggest not, given how many Africans say men are "sometimes" or "always" justified in physically disciplining their wives.
Read our latest piece in @thecontinent.org for more.
#VoicesAfrica #16DaysOfActivism #StopGBV
November 29, 2025 at 7:26 AM
WTF
Reposted by Meera Shah
African forests are now emitting more carbon dioxide than they absorb, a fundamental shift that will make it more difficult for the world to cut its net emissions to zero.
Africa’s forests are now emitting more CO2 than they absorb
Logging and mining are destroying swathes of the Congo rainforest, with the result that African forests went from being a carbon sink to a carbon source in 2010 to 2017
www.newscientist.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:21 AM
African forests are now emitting more carbon dioxide than they absorb, a fundamental shift that will make it more difficult for the world to cut its net emissions to zero.
"But this pattern of politicians learning the inconvenient truths of climate change and then falling short in the actions required to solve the problem has continued ever since. In fact, with the recent advent of blatant climate deniers, it has got far worse."
🎯
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
🎯
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
After a career as an environment writer, here’s what I have learned
Paul Brown looks back at his career reporting on the climate crisis, failed summit and nuclear power – and how to do it well
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM
"But this pattern of politicians learning the inconvenient truths of climate change and then falling short in the actions required to solve the problem has continued ever since. In fact, with the recent advent of blatant climate deniers, it has got far worse."
🎯
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
🎯
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Is that coz Turkana is going so well?
Kenya approves plan to develop the Lokichar oil basin #EnergySky
Kenya approves plan to develop the Lokichar oil basin
The Government of Kenya has approved the South Lokichar Basin Field Development Plan (FDP) aiming to start commercial production by December 2026 (The Kenya Times, 24/11/2025). The plan covers six…
www.enerdata.net
November 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Is that coz Turkana is going so well?