Ruthi Brandt
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ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Ruthi Brandt
@ruthibrandt.bsky.social
1.6K followers 550 following 2K posts
Nature, community, science and social justice. Urban nature and Green politics; Israel-Palestine, as an Israeli living abroad. Just a few of my current interests. Board member for CAG Oxfordshire. She/her.
Based next to Oxford, UK.
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ruthibrandt.bsky.social
So, what do we think - is the rise of the @greenparty.org.uk and @zackpolanski.bsky.social's shifting of the Overton Window on taxing the rich starting to worry Labour? 🤔😄

#TaxTheRich #PublicServices #inequality
Phone alert from the Guardian - "Exclusive: Britain’s wealthy must shoulder burden of rebuilding ‘creaky’ public services, Rachel Reeves says"
November 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
The Cosmic Cat book was such a wonderful initiative!

Here is a closer photo of the cover, and one with signatures of some of the brilliant authors! (Only Kennington based ones :))
The cover of a colourful book saying An anthology of stories by children COSMIC CATS Mumias School, Kenya At Swithun's School, England The title page of the book COSMIC CATS with about 10 signatures in pen and coloured markers in child's handwriting
October 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
As we take a moment to celebrate the end of the war and return of the hostages, we know it is only the first step.

Our joint struggle to bring a different future continues.

So today Oxford @ukfost.bsky.social will hold a Vigil for Peace, at 5pm at the Clarendon Building on Broad St. Join us!
Purple-themed poster with big headline saying 'VIGIL FOR PEACE' and UK FOST logo next to it. On the left a photo of people in purple gear holding signs and a banner which says - 'against war and occupation for peace and equal rights In Israel/Palestine UK Friends of Standing Together' On the right an image with writing in Hebrew, Arabic and English which says 'where there is struggle there is hope'
October 12, 2025 at 10:07 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Seeing as just under 6% of respondents to the 2021 census said they were Muslim, while 0.4% were Jewish, this tells me that while hate crimes against Muslims are still more common, you are more likely to have a hate crime committed against you if you are Jewish

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live...
See link for the original post on the Guardian's live feed
October 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
The @greenparty.org.uk is the best antidote to Reform!

#VoteGreen

(Screenshots from @electionmaps.uk)
Rolvenden & Tenterden West (Ashford) Council By-Election Result: 🌍 GRN: 36.5% (-16.9) ➡️ RFM: 31.6% (New) 🌳 CON: 27.9% (-10.3) 🔶 LDM: 2.6% (New) 🌹 LAB: 1.4% (-7.0) Green HOLD. Changes w/ 2023. Woodhouse Park (Manchester) Council By-Election Result: 🌍 GRN: 43.8% (-15.4) ➡️ RFM: 29.5% (New) 🌹 LAB: 20.5% (-12.9) 🌳 CON: 3.8% (-1.1) 🔶 LDM: 2.5% (-0.2) Green HOLD. Changes w/ 2024.
September 26, 2025 at 6:51 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Shana Tova Umetuka to everyone 🍯

May this year and its curses end and a new year and its blessings begin! (And I really mean it this time... 🫤😥)

#RoshHashana #JewishSky
A red apple with some leaves still attached sitting on green grass
September 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
אני לא יכולה להגיע ללונדון היום, אבל מי שכן יכול/ה:

‼️הפגנת חירום‼️
📍 16:30 היום, יום שלישי,
📍 מול משרד החוץ בלונדון
SW1A 3AH

עצרו את כיבוש העיר עזה!
פוסטר עם הטקסט: הפגנת חירום! מתנגדות לפלישה, לגירוש ולרצח המונים! אנחנו, ישראליות שחיות בבריטניה, חייבות לצאת מיד לרחובות ולקרוא לממשלת בריטניה: עצרו את ממשלת הטרור הישראלי. עצרו את כיבוש העיר עזה! mi-neged לא נעמוד מנגד we will not stand by
September 16, 2025 at 8:29 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Yesterday morn @standing-together.bsky.social and other Israeli orgs filled bus stops across Israel w/these signs calling on soldiers (regular and reservists) to refuse to serve - "the command to conquer Gaza is an illegal one"

(Pic taken from ST's Facebook page - www.facebook.com/share/p/1ELj...)
Picture of a notice posted on glass. The text (in Hebrew) says: חייל? מילואימניקית? הפקודה לכיבוש עזה היא פקודה בלתי חוקית בעליל היא תביא להרג החטופים, להרג אזרחים חפים מפשע בעזה ותסכן את החיים של החיילים - והיא לא תביא שום בטחון. מתלבט? דבר איתנו חיילים וחיילות שאמרו די (+QR code) + Logos of "when will we say enough, Standing Together and Soldiers for the Hostages
September 13, 2025 at 9:14 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Today we'll again stand together - Israelis, Palestinians, and supporters - in quiet solidarity,holding images of Palestinians and Israeli children whose involvement was never a choice. Join us

6:30 PM, at the Clarendon Building,Oxford.Posters will be provided

#מעורבים_בעל_כורחם #Forcibly_involved
A group of about 20 ppl standing on the steps of the Clarendon Building holding posters, some with pictures of children, some with writing such as 'end the war'
September 11, 2025 at 10:45 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
It was great to march today for Palestine and a cease fire with @ukfost.bsky.social, bringing a bit of what @standing-together.bsky.social are trying to do on the ground to the London march.

#FreePalestine #StopTheStarvation #EndTheWar
A rather blurry photo of people matching in purple t-shirts and holding a purple banner saying 'against war and occupation for peace and equal rights in Israel/Palestine UK Friends of Standing Together '
September 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
This eve we will again stand together - Israelis, Palestinians, and supporters - in quiet solidarity, holding images of Palestinians and Israeli children whose involvement was never a choice.

6:30 PM, at the Clarendon Building, Oxford. Posters will be provided

#מעורבים_בעל_כורחם #Forcibly_involved
A line of around a dozen people standing on the stairs of the Clarendon Building holding posters, some with text some with pictures of children
September 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
A drunk red admiral...

(It fed on the fermenting plum in the photo, and now seems to be a bit woozy...)
Red admiral butterfly on grass, behind it a shriveled plum
August 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
I haven't worn this necklace in about 40 years. Had the urge to do so today...

#JewsAgainstGenocide #StopStarvingGaza
A blue star of David pendant on a white shirt
July 28, 2025 at 6:08 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
I quickly found my tribe - those who are no good in preparing signs ahead of time... (but also the content of course)

#IsraelisAgainstGenocide
Cardboard sign with faint writing on it saying 'Israelis against genocide '
July 28, 2025 at 6:02 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Come join @naamoduk.bsky.social and many others outside the foreign office to demand sanctions on Israel and a end to the genocide
Protest on King Charles Street in London, with Na'amod banner and the 'cabinet war rooms' sign in the frame
July 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
We actually have a cherry harvest this year! Very proud of our tree, who after many years managed to produce more than one or two cherries! ☺️😋
A plastic box on a table filled with cherries in a variety of red hues
June 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Our new iris is looking gorgeous!

#positivity
A deep-purple iris at the height of bloom
June 15, 2025 at 5:33 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Garden cat!

#positivity #proofofcat
Black cat, with a little white chest patch, looking very serious sitting on a slab amongst lots of different kinds of greenery. A trampoline net is visible in the background.
June 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
I found a little bit of blue sky for you! 😃

Hope the hay fever goes away soon x
Picture of the back of a house and cloudy skies with one small and one tiny patches of blue
June 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
In today's #positivity post - my pepper plant has produced a flower! With loads more on the way! It's the first time I've tried to grow peppers, so this is exciting 😊

Looking forward to fresh bell peppers in a few weeks
A closeup on a potted plant with several large bright green leaves, one white, upside down flower, and several buds
June 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Nature hates a vacuum... As soon as we removed the old drawers from that corner, Sam identified it as his new favourite place 😁 #Caturday
Black cat laying chilled in an enclosed corner, looking up at the camera
May 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Go Duolingo! 👏😃💪🏳️‍⚧️
Screenshot of a Duolingo practice page on a phone, with the text: Complete the chat 'Magst du die Bücher mit Harry Potter als Figur?' 'Ja, aber meiner Meinung nach ist die Autorin gemein' Excellent! Meaning: 'Yes, but in my opinion, the author is mean."
May 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Blackwell's in Oxford seems to be quite taken with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social's The Lie of the Land (it is also displayed inside in a few places) 😁😊
Window display with several books and a big poster of a book The Lie of the Land
May 5, 2025 at 12:43 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
And of course there is the really magnificent display at Radley Large Woods. It's extra magnificent on a sunny day like today, though my dinky camera doesn't quite manage do justice to it -

(Plus a bonus unfurling fern, cause why not)
A carpet of bluebells in a wood, in dappled sunlight More bluebells and dapple sunlight A closeup of a fern with 4 leaves in the process of unfurling
April 27, 2025 at 4:02 PM
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
I really like this idiom (which I of course just made up)! I think I'll start using it 😄
Google search page for 'there are only so many flowers you can smell meaning' showing - AI Overview The saying "there are only so many flowers you can smell" encourages enjoying the present moment and appreciating the simple things in life. It suggests that we shouldn't be too focused on the future or the past, but rather make the most of each moment and find joy in the small things. It's a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty and goodness around us, like the way a flower smells. Here's a more detailed explanation: Appreciating the present: The saying emphasizes being present and savoring each moment rather than constantly looking ahead or dwelling on the past. Finding joy in small things: It suggests that happiness can be found in simple pleasures, like smelling a flower or enjoying a quiet moment. Living life to the fullest: The phrase encourages individuals to make the most of their time and experience life fully, without rushing or worrying. Acknowledging limitations: It can also be interpreted as recognizing that we can't experience everything or be aware of everything, so we should make the most of what we can
April 23, 2025 at 10:35 AM