An absolute must-read thread by @docrussjackson.bsky.social.
Uses Rupert Lowe as a case study, but opens up a much bigger question around “elite populism” – how those shaped by elite systems come to present as outsiders.
Hard not to see the wider parallels, in the UK and beyond.
More like 200 thousand years, but still funny.
The other way round for us - solar next!
We paid £340 for 500L of heating oil in Feb. Now hearing others in the village being quoted £750+.
Partly why we’ve just installed an air source heat pump (photo above), although the decision was made well before this, based on longer-term values.
Does underline how exposed these systems can be.
The U.S fascist regime is unintentionally boosting motivation for transitioning to “renewables” (solar and wind).
The immoral war against Iran reveals how vulnerable our systems are to disruptions to oil & gas supplies.
Disruption creates genuine change.
3/3 - Also worth saying… I laid the concrete pad it’s sitting on, so I can claim a small part in this!
2/3 - So this feels like a good shift. Recent events and rising oil prices have only reinforced that decision, but it was always the plan.
Early signs looking good. I’ll be interested to see how it performs over time, but so far so good. Will share how we get on once it’s fully up and running.
Air source heat pump being installed outside our house, replacing an old oil heating system, with tidy pipework and wiring running into the property.
1/3 - New addition going in this week, an air source heat pump.
@heat-geek.bsky.social installing and making a great start.
We inherited oil heating when we bought the house in October, but we’d already decided we wanted to move away from fossil fuels if we could.
I’m sorry to hear that, I hope you feel better soon.
I get where you are with social media, I’m heading the same way. If you have a Medium account, Substack or some kind of newsletter I can subscribe to, let me know. Whatever you choose, I wish you well and thank you for your insights
These aren’t isolated stories.
Climate denial. Elite impunity. Data extraction. Political spectacle.
If we treat each scandal as separate, we miss the pattern. The pattern is concentrated power without meaningful accountability. 3/3
Reading this, Stephen Markley’s The Deluge came straight to mind.
Fiction, yes. But it traces how climate stress, elite power, technological acceleration and political spectacle can quietly reinforce each other. 2/3
Power rarely announces itself as tyranny. It accumulates through systems.
This piece on “technofascism” explores the convergence of AI, Big Tech and illiberal politics.
Not rallies and uniforms. Algorithms, platforms and concentrated capital. 1/3
Does anyone else’s dog hide under the bed to avoid going on a walk??
Surely he’s proven to be both
I watched it this morning, and since been further frustrated by the lacklustre approach of our prime minister. Carney is absolutely right in calling out other leaders. And, significantly, in the aftermath of Trump looks to opportunity to build something new. A truly great message
I haven’t listened yet, but the contrast is painful. Here in the UK we have flaccid leadership, no vision of hope or possibility, just the continuation of austerity thinking and spineless deference to the US. If Carney is offering anything close to what you describe, it feels worlds apart
Amazing, huge congratulations!
Best of luck!
ICYMI: an international team has developed a new framework for understanding sustainable development. Instead of separating nature, society and economy, David Obura and co. propose a model that positions nature as the foundation.
In the UK we’re living with the downstream effects of that dynamic already. When truth, accountability, and consequence get endlessly deferred, something far uglier fills the space. 2/2
Great post. My frustration isn’t with outrage, it’s with how often expressing it becomes the release valve. Psychologically, it offers relief without responsibility, and once the pressure eases, behaviour rarely follows. 1/2
Anyone needing a simple illustration as to the reason British people are so sick of mainstream politics/politicians (Conservatives & Labour) - look no further than this video.
Meanwhile, the tactics of most of the other world leaders is to stay quiet and wait out his term. Those tactics may prove useless however, as he becomes increasingly aggressive internationally. Domestic constitutional laws seem ineffective in keeping him in check.
Some really good and encouraging news from research on Alzheimer’s
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“The damaged brain can, under some conditions, repair itself and regain function.”
Absolutely, I mean, is it even possible to defame this man?
Thank you
Hi @heat-geek.bsky.social - is there any way I can speak to somebody? I've emailed and used your AI chatbot, but not getting anywhere. You have just increased my proposal (with no explanation or justification) by more than £1500! I was just about to sign off, and I'm now unsure what to do next!
4/4: ... and most nature lovers experience the outdoors through very narrow corridors of land. The pattern of losing the commons in small steps is still with us.
3/4: ... survival as people suddenly found themselves shut out of land they had relied on for generations.
It feels relevant today because access to land in England is still highly restricted. Only a small proportion of the countryside is legally open to roam, ...