Steve Rooney

This is amongst the most impactful two minutes of broadcasting I’ve ever seen.

By Emma Murphy, International Editor, ITV News. #Gaza

know your parasites 🪱🕷️🦟

Enough of the billionaires and their big tech. ‘Frugal tech’ will build us all a better world | Eleanor Drage Titans like Musk would love us to believe innovation means top-down solutions that only enrich the wealthy. In fact, we all have the power, says Eleanor Drage, research fellow at Cambridge University

Love this on 'frugal tech' from Eleanor Drage which exposes power relations of current top-down technology.

"What is most outstanding about frugal innovation is not just that its technologies are impressive, but that it might actually prompt systemic change ..."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Cover of 'One day, everyone will have been against this', Omar El Akkad, 2025.

UK finally takes (limited) action on recognising Palestinian state. This from Omar El Akkad (2025) is apposite:

"One day, when it is safe, when there's no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it's too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this"

https://www.shropshirehills-nl.org.uk/a-special-place/management-plan/2025-30-management-plan

A wonderful Doughnut Economics-themed workshop last week in Church Stretton. Organised by Shropshire Hills National Landscape whose management plan is using the doughnut, it was a truly inspiring event. A pleasure to spend time with others who 'dare to imagine a different future'.
shorturl.at/5sCEP

How economics teaching became the Aeroflot of ideas The discipline is failing students by ignoring the biggest social, political and ecological challenges facing the world today

"Reforming economics curricula is not an academic distraction — it’s a societal imperative." Excellent piece by Ha-Joon Chang in the FT on why the teaching of economics needs to be made fit for 21st century challenges.

www.ft.com/content/9aab...

Musk and co should ask AI what defines intelligence. They... The X owner thinks artificial general intelligence is ‘smarter than the smartest human’. But it’s not as clever as he thinks

Incisive commentary from ‪@jjn1.bsky.social‬ on delusions among AI evangelists about what constitutes intelligence. He deploys a neat method of getting an LLM machine to spill the beans.

observer.co.uk/news/columni...

China hits 1 TW solar milestone China’s solar power capacity has surpassed 1 TW, marking a historic milestone as the country accelerates its energy transition. Around 92 GW of new PV systems were installed in China in May alone, but...

China’s #solar power capacity has surpassed 1 TW, marking a historic milestone as the country accelerates its energy transition. Around 92 GW of new PV systems were installed in #China in May alone.
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/06/23/c...

It's not often i manage to capture more than one Kingfisher in the same photo, so here's my #StunDay capture for this lovely warm Sunday morning with 2 of them on the same reed at Rodley Nature Reserve.

#birds #wildlife #EastCoastKin #ukbirding @rspb.bsky.social #naturephotography #birdphotography

💡 Curious about how community energy projects go from idea to impact?

Our case studies spotlight the incredible groups powering change across the UK, from solar panels on schools to heat networks in villages. 🌱⚡

Get inspired by the people behind the projects 👉

www.younity.coop/energy-gener...

UK makes new concessions to private equity on tax crackdown Government proposes changes to tax treatment of carried interest that will make the regime less onerous

Govts bend to corporations & money. Give tax perks.

Despite manifesto pledge govt backtracks, eases conditions. Private equity bosses' income will be taxed as capital gains. Will pay tax at max marginal rate of 34.1%, not 45%.

Who listens to the poor?
archive.ph/NYEpB

Analysis: UK’s solar power surges 42% after sunniest spring on record - Carbon Brief The UK’s solar farms and rooftops generated more electricity than ever before in the first five months of 2025.

New UK solar records as a result of sunnier weather and increased capacity - offsetting the need for around 16TWh of imported gas.

Analysis by @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org and Ho Woo Nam for @carbonbrief.org

www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uks...

A climate emergency leads to the maths breaking down for insurers. Günther Thallinger, Allianz board member writes about the need to act now on climate. He is worried about the survival of capitalism; the rest of us are worried about the survival of society.
www.linkedin.com/in/guenther-...

How captured economics stole our climate — and what we can do about it Part 1: What (almost) failing to become an economist taught me about economics

A great critique of the paucity of mainstream economic thinking from @katyrshields.bsky.social and a reflection of what she has learned about economics, 'in spite' of her education. This is the first of three pieces, more to follow.

medium.com/@katyrshield...

Lord Keynes told us in 1941 how to pay for defence We should follow his advice. YouTube video by Richard J Murphy

Love this shopping list for fairer tax options from @richardjmurphy.bsky.social Let's do it!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8vt...

An alternative take on Trump’s favourite word Seen from a different angle, would the US president still choose tariffs?

There's so much nonsense from the Trump regime these days that you may not have the mental energy to keep up with the tariff saga, but this is a neat explanation and history lesson from @timharford.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/62ea...

REVEALED: Trump & Elon Musk's BRUTAL Secret YouTube video by Double Down News

Great explainer by @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
“We have to create billionaire-proof spaces and then start building outwards from there ... creating alternative poles of power into which the billionaires can’t intrude ... if we don’t do that, they will take everything.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEfJ...

Fantastic to see beavers being released in Shrewsbury! Hope everyone listens to the message about not disturbing them as they establish their new home. Great work @shropshirewildlife.bsky.social

.@thecccuk.bsky.social chair explaining what pretty much all non-invested scientists say about carbon capture:

⛔️ Don't use it an an excuse to expand the fossil industry
⛔️ Don't use it for electricity generation.

I beg the CCC to make this official—say it out loud that the emperor has no clothes.

Frome residents win five-year battle for community-led housing project Mayday Saxonvale scheme is given the go-ahead after an extraordinary meeting of Somerset council executive

Big story with national consequences, and a rare ray of hope www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The Climate Justice Universities Union: Reclaiming the Transformative Power of Higher Education The Climate Justice Universities Union was formed and launched in Autumn 2024. In this month's Rundale, organisers set out the structure and ambitions of the union.

An inspiring initiative emerging in Ireland aimed at harnessing the transformative power of higher education. www.climatejusticeuniversitiesunion.org

www.rundale.org/2024/12/12/t...

In hopeless times, we can never afford to lose hope | AL Kennedy As democracy’s opponents peddle hate, anger and division, our job is to act like citizens of a better country

A powerful counterpoint to despair: hope.

www.theguardian.com/books/commen...

Starmer throws down gauntlet to watchdogs with growth edict The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth and investment amid sluggish economic growth, Sky News learns.

UK PM, Chancellor, business secretary order the FCA, Ofgem, Ofwat, other regulators to come up with ideas to boost economic growth of their industries.

It is a race-to-the-bottom and bonfire of people's rights.

Remember deregulation and the 2008 crash.
news.sky.com/story/amp/st...

Warhammer is weird. That’s why it works Making sense of London’s latest blue-chip stock

I'm surprised that I continue to be surprised how people make money within capitalism. Deeper Q is what real value these companies offer.

"Games Workshop is now a £4.6bn company, more valuable than easyJet, British Land, Burberry, Tate & Lyle, Greggs, ITV or Manchester United."

on.ft.com/3BHNVeM

And what do you want from Santa this Christmas? | First Dog on the Moon An incurable illness that turns billionaires into owls

Inspired First Dog on the Moon in @theguardian.com this morning.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Great piece and well done for getting something into print so quickly!

Protesting farmers are having to fight off the radical right, conspiracy theorists and climate sceptics Until farmers get a fair deal, other groups will seek to exploit the situation.

My first piece for The Conversation: Farmers are key to net zero transitions and face ever tougher economic conditions. theconversation.com/protesting-f...

Flooding risk will affect 1 in 4 English properties by mid-century, says report Environment Agency says updated analysis has produced more pessimistic outlook of threat to homes by 2050

Major update of Environment Agency modelling, integrating the latest climate projections. Flash floods threat to 4.6m properties, "a 43 per cent increase on the 2018 assessment".

on.ft.com/3ZY0BaE

Harrogate Spring Water planning to cut down wood planted by schoolchildren Conservation groups join those who helped plant woodland in opposing expansion of bottling plant

So, community woodland to be cut down for pointless, polluting product.

Really Harrogate Spring Water?!

You might have noticed we have a #NatureCrisis, #ClimateEmergency, not to mention a planet choked by #PlasticPollution?

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

2025-30 Shropshire Hills Management Plan The Management Plan aims to influence and guide landowners, organisations and individuals to conserve and enhance the Shropshire Hills.

Great to see Doughnut Economics finding its way into management plans for the UK’s protected places, including my local patch, Shropshire Hills National Landscape.

www.shropshirehills-nl.org.uk/a-special-pl...