War in the Persian Gulf region can increase food prices in two ways: (1) cost push (energy-intensive nitrogen fertilizer and fuel for tractors and trucks all become more expensive); (2) demand pull (through biofuel markets).
This article describes the first way.
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/b...
... but when they want to justify the large fraction of subsidies that go to large rich farmers instead of small poor farmers, they emphasize that large farmers produce most of the food, which is true (never mind that their mean annual household income > $500k and they don't need the support). (2/2)
Yes, in USDA data "farmer" means "farm operator" (a business owner) not "farm laborer" (a hired worker). There is a sleight of hand used in advocacy: when writers want farmers to sound poor and in need of support, they quote income statistics for all farmers (many of which are small),... (1/2)
Nobody on the left traffics in white grievance or dishonest accusations of vote rigging to any extent worth mentioning in this thread.
If that's what you are against, look rightward for your opponent.
Intramural arguments among Democrats can be fierce.
Consider the trivia question: who has done most to amplify anti-Democratic sentiment, "vote rigging", and "white working glass" grievance above all else?
Surely President Trump, I would think.
(The intended answer was Bernie Sanders).
President Trump has done more to amplify anti-Democratic sentiment, "vote rigging," and "white working class" grievance.
Eric Lee, you liked this comment?
With the actual forces of hate and dictatorship standing right in front of us, you're naming Bernie Sanders as your example of anti-Black anti-Jewish politics?
I'm capable of intramural political argument, but I save that type of attack for our real opponents.
Provocative comments. Honestly, I'm reading with an open mind.
Can you give an example of anybody on the "left" who wants a movement with no Black people and Jews? Or who holds both these views: "no war but class war" and "no more identity politics"?
Yes, and like medieval Islamic historians, in the midst of long confident narratives, every couple paragraphs, we should mention in passing: "... but only God knows the truth."
We could do the same in our journal articles and books.
Paul Krugman explains: "The wind and the sun don't need to transit the Strait of Hormuz."
A humane climate transition involves well-planned restraint on fossil fuel use. An inhumane climate transition involves violent restraint on fossil fuel use.
One way or another, the transition is inevitable.
"Of those who voted Labour [in 2024], just 37% would vote Labour again".
Read that again to absorb the full, astonishing weight of what it means.
Starmer, Reeves and co have burnt their house down.
news.sky.com/story/greens...
And current easy access to inexpensive and convenient aviation may disappear as climate-related conflict worsens.
We just missed it also. We were up at the right time for totality but the moon had just set behind buildings and hills a few minutes earlier than calendar setting time.
Two bad things about starting this war: (1) our forces will do evil things to other humans and (2) others will do evil things to us.
The Iran war will be momentarily popular, because few people care about (1) and the exact form of (2) is not yet visible.
After that, it will go badly.
What a great interview. Zack Polanski doesn't complain about the interviewer's hard questions. Instead, he answers them.
Blessings for the life of Colman McCarthy!
When I was in junior high school in the early 1980s, he spoke to our class.
He told us the value of peace, justice, and education, and told us not to have sex. Quite an earful!
This is the "polycrisis."
I don't say this to spread discouragement. Naming the opponent gives us strength for the struggle.
In this morning's newspaper, we have unjust war in Iran, cuts to green energy in Massachusetts, and a broken democratic response.
That's the opponent.
See you out there.
Fascinating research by @samuelfinnerty.bsky.social on how scientist-activists navigate the tensions between their professional and activist roles, based on research with our group @scientistsforxr.earth
For university climate action people ... you are not alone!
The Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU or "Climate Uni") has a new North America branch, with a kickoff event tomorrow Feb 26 6pm eastern (online only, the in-person option was canceled).
climatejusticeuniversitiesunion.org
Excellent hard-hitting report.
The REVERB initiative reports that travel emissions, including aviation, are "live music’s biggest climate challenge – and its greatest opportunity." Founders and @tufts.edu alums, Lauren Sullivan and Adam Gardner will receive the 2026 Lyon & Bendheim Citizenship Award!
reverb.org/concert-trav...
For a while I especially enjoyed a space opera in the interior of the solar system with realistic travel speeds and diverse humans working through war, peace, and diplomacy rather than superpowerful aliens. Lost interest after some of the plot developments.
Yes, congratulations to the people reporting on this for years before the impact really could be seen.
I imagine Epstein's was not the only network trafficking in some mix of sex, financial fixing, and political influence for powerful elites. What are the next biggest such networks we should know?
Good thread.
Informative about ICE and FEMA schemes especially in Florida.
And, at a deeper level, nice job remiding us how to use social media simply for discerning the empirical truth rather than just marking out ideological loyalties.
Those no good unfaithful lying cheating banks help finance private prisons and war bonds, and they went back on their climate pledges. From @xrboston.bsky.social on Instagram.
www.instagram.com/reel/DU3v8Ot...
In this episode of the low-carbon travel and tourism show, Lifestyles of the NOT Jet Set, we walk across Washington DC to the Lincoln Memorial, on the same week that the Buddhist Walk for Peace is scheduled to arrive after walking from Texas. Episode 23: Pilgrimage. youtu.be/EAZBv1Px61o?...
An extraordinary new column in the Daily Telegraph (no, that's not a typo!) by Ambrose Evans Pritchard.
Yes, it includes two charts by Carbon Brief, sure.
But stay for the concluding few paragraphs about the electoral suicide of climate denial...
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is
Who decides which properties will be allowed to rebuild? Who will pay for rebuilding and subsequent insurance? Who decides which cities or areas will be defended — by sea walls, dredging projects, canals — and which will be abandoned? If people must relocate, who decides when, and which people? Who pays for relocation? Which communities take in the relocated? Who decides on compensation for the relocated? What are the legal rights of the relocated? Who is legally liable for foreseeable damage to coastal property? What is the value of nonmonetary attachment to a home or place? Is sentiment counted? Who decides on its value? Should these decisions be made by lawmakers and technocrats or popular votes and referenda? Ad hoc or planned in advance? Determined by market forces or by some collective judgment of fairness? If, as seems inevitable, the poor suffer first and worst from the impacts of extreme weather, what role should equity play in decisions about relocation? https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/9/8/16272538/what-is-worth-saving
Theres a quiet myth that #climate adaptation is less contentious than mitigation. It isn’t
Who's protected? Who pays? Who decides?
If we can’t transform society to decarbonize justly, why think adaptation will be easier? Both hinge on fairness, equality &democracy
Reminded of key Qs by @volts.wtf
