Purple_ab
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purpleab.bsky.social
Purple_ab
@purpleab.bsky.social
94 followers 280 following 2 posts
she/her. I'm just a person who reads a lot of your posts. Politics. Anti racism. Feminism. Cats. Sci fi. Muay thai. Yoga. Meditation. Funnies. 🌺🇬🇧🇲🇺
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Reposted by Purple_ab
pimlicat.bsky.social
😍We are rejoining Erasmus. Official announcement tomorrow😍

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Purple_ab
lucyfurleaps.bsky.social
I came here to post this as I can't believe it doesn't already have 10,000 signatures - please sign and share! So vital and so utterly crazy that this has to be petitioned for. #climatesky
December 16, 2025 at 9:16 AM
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robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
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thecontinent.org
In Nairobi, on the last Saturday of the month, three dozen people hand over their phones. It’s the first rule of the Serenity Social Club’s Disconnect event – a day of no screens or digital notifications. In their place are yoga, pottery, crocheting, conversations with strangers – or even just naps.
Airplane mode for scattered souls
The Serenity Social Club has nailed the blueprint for connecting by disconnecting in a bespoke little world free from WiFi.
continent.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:46 AM
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ottoenglish.bsky.social
Takes a few seconds and this is definitely needed so please do your bit.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 28, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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antonyjohnston.bsky.social
Once again @booktrust.org.uk, a UK charity which gifts books to disadvantaged children, is running its Christmas donation drive. I’ve been a BookTrust supporter for many years; please consider making a donation to this excellent cause 📚💖

www.booktrust.org.uk
Visit BookTrust
BookTrust transforms lives by getting children and families reading. We are the UK's largest children's reading charity. Each year we reach 3.4 million…
www.booktrust.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM
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praxisprojects.bsky.social
Adopting a Denmark-style immigration model is a dangerous new low from our Government. Pushing temporary status, harsher family reunion rules and “parallel society” labels throws basic rights under the bus in a bid to win cheap votes.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK to announce plans to emulate stringent Danish immigration system
Shabana Mahmood’s proposals draw scorn from some Labour MPs, while others want government to go further
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Purple_ab
keithwdickinson.bsky.social
Don't threaten me with a good time.
chadbourn.bsky.social Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · Nov 2
Interesting piece: if Tesla collapses Musk’s entire empire could come crashing down because of the way he’s structured the companies’ finances.
This Is How Tesla Will Die
The vultures are circling the tech giant.
open.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Purple_ab
thecontinent.org
In 2020, the MV Wakashio wrecked off Mauritius, spilling 1,000 tonnes of oil — one of the country’s worst ecological disasters.

A new inquiry finds it destroyed 96km² of reef, caused $2.5 billion in damage, and confirms shared blame between the crew and authorities.
Five years later, fisherfolk are waiting on justice for oil spill
A public inquiry confirms that a drunken navigation error and failed oversight caused a ship’s catastrophic crash into the reef. The island is still waiting for reparations.
continent.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
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gregjenner.bsky.social
D’Angelo, R&B Grammy-award winning singer, dead at 51 www.bbc.com/news/article...
R&B singer D’Angelo dead at 51
The singer, who was also an acclaimed songwriter, was known for helping create the genre of neo-soul.
www.bbc.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Purple_ab
danielsohege.bsky.social
Firms running hotels make vast profits, while often providing appalling conditions.
People seeking asylum don't choose to get stuck in hotels. Firms choose to make money off their lives, and governments choose to pay them rather than implement better alternatives.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper
Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of
www.bbc.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 6:05 AM
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marcusjdl.bsky.social
457k!!!! LOL
September 25, 2025 at 11:19 PM
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workingclasshistory.com
#OtD 13 Aug 1937 four striking Indian sugar workers were massacred at the Union Flacq Sugar Estate, Mauritius. In response, protests escalated. The British colonial government was then forced to legalise unions and set up collective bargaining stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/7741...
August 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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janinegibson.ft.com
This is a fiercely sad and damning piece about the reality of one of our most admired professions. What a terrible fate for a dedicated man www.the-londoner.co.uk/nhs-doctor-s...
The lonely death of Dr Jagdip Sidhu
He was a rising star of the NHS. Could his work have contributed to his death?
www.the-londoner.co.uk
March 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
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misterabk.bsky.social
Every mind-bending TV show:
March 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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jeremycorbyn.bsky.social
The government has announced it will pay for more weapons and bombs by cutting support for the world's poorest people.

A deplorable decision that will only create a more unstable and unequal world.

What is the government doing to bring about peace?
February 25, 2025 at 2:38 PM
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cypmentalhealth.bsky.social
🚨This new briefing by @centreformh.bsky.social explores the commercial determinants of mental health.

Business practices influence economic, social, environmental and cultural surroundings, leading to widespread impacts on people's mental health.

www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications...
The commercial determinants of mental health - Centre for Mental Health
This briefing explores how business practices can influence the public's mental health and how to mitigate the risks they pose.
www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk
February 18, 2025 at 10:35 AM
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mattdovey.com
In November, we (PodCastle) ran a month of Palestinian stories, and honestly I think it is the single best month of stories we've ever run, and you should listen to it on those grounds alone.

But I also spent a lot of time on those outros, and meant to write more about them at the time, but: busy.
Palestinian Voices Month - PodCastle
PodCastle is extremely proud to present Palestinian Voices, our special month of stories by Palestinian authors. We will be publishing one of these fabulous stories every week during November 2024, an...
podcastle.org
December 27, 2024 at 11:55 AM
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nigella.bsky.social
It’s almost time to brine! So of course my Spiced and Superjuicy Turkey is #RecipeOfTheDay. It just wouldn’t be Christmas for me without it. www.nigella.com/recipes/spic...
Spiced and Superjuicy Roast Turkey
For me the only turkey is a brined one. Not only does it tenderize and add subtle spiciness, but it makes carving the turkey incredibly much easier. You have only to try this method to be utterly conv...
www.nigella.com
December 22, 2024 at 2:18 PM
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wagatwe.com
I see a lot of people talk about the environmental costs of AI. I don't see as much about the human exploitation behind it.
Training AI takes heavy toll on Kenyans working for $2 an hour | 60 Minutes
YouTube video by 60 Minutes
youtu.be
December 4, 2024 at 10:03 PM
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samirasawlani.bsky.social
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has been named World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year and Male Track Athlete of the Year.
December 1, 2024 at 4:59 PM
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soozuk.bsky.social
This guy seems great, can't HE lead the Labour Party?
November 28, 2024 at 8:15 AM