Almost everything we argue about is a substitute for the thing we should be arguing about: the immense wealth & power of an oligarchic class, which captures governments, ruins lives and wrecks the living planet.
This class redirects our rage at scapegoats. To resist its lies is to resist its power.
I said last night at a Byline Times event that many had warned against Mandelson's appointment.
Now we know that included the official vetting process: utterly unacceptable from Sir Keir Starmer
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A painting of a stormy dark sky over a small shack in a prairie.
My painting DARK STORM
Two young white people gaze into one another's eyes in a garden. One of them has visible Down syndrome traits.
Here's an interview I recently did with Fiadhnait Canning and Luca Malocco Mulville, both of whom have intellectual disabilities, and their director, Anna Rodgers, about the short film Grace, which addresses sexuality and autonomy. www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2026... #disability 🎬
A Palestinian woman is silhouetted by the low sun as she sits beside an iron fence topped with barbed wire.
Aya is trying to look after her three young daughters, one of whom is badly injured, in their damaged tent, and find food, and pay for Majd's medical treatment. She needs all the help she can get. gofund.me/6b0df7824 @mommunism.bsky.social @gofund-gaza.bsky.social @fairshare.help #MutualAid #SkyAid
Capitalism has always been bad, all 500+ years of it.
The only time it was even slightly good was in the 1930s-1970's because it was largely socialised.
And this was only because the millions of soldiers returning from WW1 & WW2 had the resolve and numbers to do it.
Sadiq Khan demands stronger action on social media ‘outrage economy’ #news #worldnews #uknews #uk #london #sadiqkhan #socialmedia #misinformation #information
Wishing this fabulously competent—and joyful—crew a safe return to a planet that, frankly, doesn't deserve them.
Looking forward to it
The Hungarian election is about Russian oligarchy and its support of the international far right. That’s why Vance is there. He is a node in that network.
A young Palestinian boy in white trousers and a mint green jacket, smiling and making a thumbs-up gesture.
Alas, there was confusion over Nabil's school fees, and he still doesn't have all he needs, so the bus didn't pick him up this morning. If you can donate, it will really help. If not, perhaps you can help him learn. gofund.me/35fdca7d @mommunism.bsky.social @gofund-gaza.bsky.social @fairshare.help 🍉
A tiny Palestinian girl in a colourful, floaty dress, wearing a sparkly headband and carrying a plastic handbag with the face of a sheep. She is giving a thumbs-up signal.
Julia was so fragile at the start of the war on Gaza that it has been amazing to see her survive and grow in spite of everything. Now, alas, she faces constant hunger again. Can you help? chuffed.org/project/157569 @mommunism.bsky.social @pepsffk.bsky.social @gofund-gaza.bsky.social @fairshare.help
I have a father and mother in law in Iran. I have a sister in law. A niece. She's 14. She likes silly pink headbands and purses and dresses, just like kids her age all over the world. There are 93 million people like her in Iran. People who do all the normal mundane life things as the rest of us.
An advert for the Bylines Network women, justice and equality webinar, taking place Wednesday 15 April at 7 pm. The card has pictures of Ginny Smith (Sussex Bylines Editor in Chief), Anouska de Georgiou (a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein), Natalie Bennet (politician and journalist) and a logo for the No One Above campaign group with the names of two survivors of abuse by Mohammed Al-Fayed beside it- Isabella and Justine.
As the Epstein scandal rumbles on, I continue to be impressed by the formidable Anouska de Georgiou and by the Harrods abuse survivors who will be speaking live at our event next week. Join us if you can. It still amazes me how much things have changed to make this possible.
Guernica by Picasso 1937
Guernica by Picasso, 1937, a symbol of peace and resistance against fascism.
#war #art #picasso
An advert for the Bylines Network women, justice and equality webinar, taking place Wednesday 15 April at 7 pm. The card has pictures of Ginny Smith (Sussex Bylines Editor in Chief), Anouska de Georgiou (a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein), Natalie Bennet (politician and journalist) and a logo for the No One Above campaign group with the names of two survivors of abuse by Mohammed Al-Fayed beside it- Isabella and Justine https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bylinesnetwork1/2140874
In an industry where 54% of publications are run by males, we are proud to say that 80% of our Editors-in-Chief across all 10 of our publications are not male. We are also proud to champion female voices, including this upcoming webinar on April 15th at 7 pm.
www.tickettailor.com/events/bylin...
A Scottish saltire flag: a white diagonal cross on a dark blue background.
So here's a thing that I've known for a while but wasn't hitherto able to talk about: provided that we're not all nuked into oblivion in the meantime, I'm going to be managing Bylines Scotland's coverage of the Holyrood election. If you would like to connect with this, give me a shout. #election
Given Trump’s Easter threats to carry out new war crimes in Iran, we should think one or two steps ahead about a coup attempt connected to the war. And then deter it. (1/17)
George Callaghan.
'The Edge the Village'
oil and acrylic on canvas.
The Together Alliance march in London on 28 March 2026
@ginnyfos.bsky.social @tarringnev.bsky.social
A young Palestinian girl wearing a pink hoodie stands in a garden in front of an apartment building, holding out a bunch of large red daisies.
This is Mona as she was before the war and before her injury. Now Aya can't afford both her treatment, the medicine needed to keep Majd alive, and food. Please help if you can. gofund.me/6b0df7824 @mommunism.bsky.social @merryrobin.bsky.social @gofund-gaza.bsky.social @pepsffk.bsky.social #Skyhelp 🍉
"The lack of any regulation means that fake think tanks utilising names and locations which lend credibility to these astroturf operations can be used with impunity. This must be tackled," Labour MP Alex Sobel said
open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
PM of Poland
Just what we don't need. Already, our rivers are overloaded with both human and livestock waste, leading in many cases to #rivercide. Now the government, responding as always to lobbyists, wants to make it worse. Then it wonders why it loses public support. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
finally
