Helen Cooksley 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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Fotograph shows a table with covers of books translated into German: back row: 5 books by Sarah J. Maas middle row: Toni Morrison, Bluest Eyes; Steven Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower; Orwell, 1984; Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants; Front row: Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why; Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian; Art Spielman, Complete MAUS; Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid‘s Tale; John Green, For Alaska.

Freiburg, Germany, Central Station Bookshop (right @the center of the shop‘s entryway):
“This is a selection of books which are banned at schools in the US“.
#UniteAgainstBookBans
#FreedomToRead
@ala-pla.bsky.social
@librarypolicy.bsky.social

The best thing about using a colander to view the eclipse is that it doesn’t strain your eyes.
😆

Rich people do not pay Income Tax.

The richest 1% pay Income Tax on less than 20% of their Income.

This is because nearly 70% of them don't have a job, they are all Landlords and Stock Traders paying a maximum tax of 20%, if they even pay that.

Meanwhile you pay 47%.

New figures reveal 4.5 million children in the UK are growing up in poverty — the highest ever recorded.

Meanwhile, UK billionaires saw their wealth rise to £795 billion last year — another record.

We have resources to end child poverty. We need a wealth tax on the super-rich.

Reeves 'to slash 50,000 civil service jobs' as she pushes to cut spending by £2 billion per year Rachel Reeves' spending plans are likely to mean 50,000 job losses in the civil service, a trade union has warned.

UK Chancellor Reeves goes full Trump, 'to slash 50,000 civil service jobs', cut spending by £2 billion per year.

So, there is less money in the economy.

Knock-on effect? Loss of tax revenues? Pressure on families, welfare benefits and public services?

Austerity because govt won't tax the rich.

Department for Education confirms launch of natural history GCSE Campaigners have been calling for the qualification for years but plan stalled despite a curriculum being drawn up

Brilliant news on a Friday afternoon: gov will launch new natural history GCSE. It's taken Mary Colwell, @carolinelucas.bsky.social & others years of campaigning. (I'm praying it'll be introduced quickly enough for my children!)
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Wales’s 20mph speed limit has cut road deaths. Why is there still even a debate? Research suggests the scheme may be more popular than thought, with consultations dominated by a loud minority

"Wales’s 20mph speed limit has cut road deaths. Why is there still even a debate?" - really nice to see our motonormativity research being used to explain this. Cheers, @peterwalker99.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Brexit a key factor in worst UK medicine shortages in four years, report says Nuffield Trust says supply chains have shifted, with medicines for epilepsy and cystic fibrosis among those now scarce

Brexit a key factor in worst UK medicine shortages in four years, report says

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

UK billionaires added £182,000,000,000 to their wealth last year. That’s £35,000,000 every single day.

Their combined wealth is £795,361,000,000.

So don't let anyone tell you austerity is a “necessity”. There’s more than enough wealth to fund our NHS, public services & welfare.

More taxes? Yes please! Patriotic Millionaires want to do more for the country “Tax our wealth” – that’s the message from millionaires across the UK whose campaign is hitting the road ahead of the government’s spring statement

More taxes? Yes please! Patriotic Millionaires want to do more for the country

“Tax our wealth” – that’s the message from millionaires across the UK whose campaign is hitting the road ahead of the government’s spring statement

@patmillsuk.bsky.social @joing.bsky.social

We're in London today with a big old bus to tell our Govt this country cannot afford cuts. Instead they should tax us, the super rich. A 2% wealth tax alone could raise up to £460mln a week. @Keir_starmer - invest in a fairer economy. Patriotic Millionaires say Tax Our Wealth

In just 20 days...

🚀 Full STEAM Ahead kicks off in Manchester – the ultimate event for STEAM educators! 🔬🌟

We’ve got an incredible lineup of speakers, including top STEAM experts, content creators, and tutoring superstars. This is your chance to:

🌐 Network with the best in the field

🛠️ Skill-swap

🆘 LIVE in Foley Square, NYC. We’re marching to #StopTheCuts and #SaveMedicaid.

@bkindivisible.bsky.social #StoptheCoup #Resist

Stay safe from online hate with these five tips In this era of anti-science activism, it‘s wise to take steps to protect your research and reputation in the digital realm.

All scientists, regardless of research discipline or geography, are potential targets of cyberattacks. “The problem is bigger than any one president, prime minister or leader of a totalitarian or authoritarian state.” New @nature.com, some timely advice, by @drmichaelbrooks.bsky.social 🧪

A French University is funding a Safe Place For Science program meant to recruit scientists who cannot continue their work in the US. www.univ-amu.fr/fr/public/a...

£6 billion in cuts to welfare & disability benefits that will push 700,000 into poverty — instead of taxing the super-rich.

Spending on weapons of destruction — instead of helping the world’s poorest.

These political choices are cruel.

This isn’t the “change” people voted for.

NHS leaders ordered to propose 7bn cuts to services.

This is devastating.

This is what happens when you prioritise the profits of mega corporations over the people.

The NHS needs extra funding, not more austerity and cuts.

The UN's damning verdict on UK poverty must inspire us to force change The United Nations criticised UK poverty rates and called for the DWP to scrap the two-child limit and benefit cap.

Neoliberal achievements.

Higher homelessness, food insecurity, malnutrition, lack of good food/housing, fuel poverty, sewage in rivers, crumbling schools.

Underfunded NHS can't provide timely care.

Corporations making record profits. Rich got richer in a corrupt political system.

Women Resisters!

DWP should increase benefits and scrap two-child limit, UN says The United Nations has urged the Labour government to scrap the DWP two-child limit and raise benefits in warning over poverty failures.

The United Nations (UN) has urged Keir Starmer to scrap the controversial two-child limit and reverse the five-week wait for universal credit in a warning that the UK government is infringing human rights with the ongoing poverty crisis
@bigissue.com
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

A young girl holding a card that says “I am here because when I am a grown-up I want to be a scientist”

At the DC #standupforscience today.

The question was “Why are you here?” She came up with this on her own! (I helped her with the spelling)

So proud of her! #standupforscience2025
@standupforscience.bsky.social

"Scissor Graph" showing men overtaking women in proportional representation in sciences after doctorate

Happy International Women's Day! Despite the efforts, while much more women enter scientific fields, due to numerous factors, few manage to remain in the field or secure senior positions. Support your coworkers, call out harmful systemic behaviour. 😘

Tory donations twice as high as Labour’s in last part of 2024 Conservatives raised nearly £2m, Labour £1m and Reform £280,000 from donors in last three months of year

Politicians for Sale.

UK political parties accepted £100m in donations in 2024.

Donations are bribes made to exercise influence, subvert public choices and ensure that corporations/rich rule.

Normal people can't compete.

Can't cleanse politics without banning donations.

It’s borderline criminal.

The Cymru Connection: Is Elis James linked to everyone in Wales? Every week, Elis James tries to find a mutual connection with a random Welsh caller - in one minute.

The Cymru Connection: Is Elis James linked to everyone in Wales?

A crowd of people demonstrating outside in front of the Lincoln Memorial on a clear, sunny day. Some of the signs read “Science over Stupidity,” “Science Makes America Great,” and “Team Public Health, Not Team Measles.”

Today at the “Stand up for Science” demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial.

James Harrison, whose rare blood protected babies, dies at 88 A rare antibody in the blood of the Australian railway clerk was used to create 3 million doses of an injection needed to protect newborns and prevent stillbirths.

Want to feel good about humanity?

James Harrison, an Australian railway clerk, hated needles but donated blood every two weeks for over 60 years. The rare antibodies in his blood are credited with saving 2.4 million babies.

RIP