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Els Torreele

Els Torreele

@elstorreele.bsky.social

570 followers 620 following 100 posts

Interested in Shifting Powers towards Health Equity, Economic Justice, post-Finance Capitalism, Climate Justice, Equitable Access to Medicines and Vaccines, and a better future for all of us. Founding Director of æqua.

Environmental science 28%

Economics 20%

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Els Torreele @elstorreele.bsky.social · Jul 4

👇 Podcast: Reflecting on the deadly impact of US global health funding cuts incl stopping people's #AccessToMedicines, I talk about the root causes of #access dependency and why pharmaceutical self-reliance for public health purpose is a strategic priority.

open.spotify.com/episode/64o8...

Rethinking Global Health, Aid Funding and HIV Response

Make Medicines Affordable · Episode

open.spotify.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

RichardJR @electricbluesfan.bsky.social · 1d

9/10 This is the biggest chemistry experiment on the planet in 66 million years.

The Earth is indifferent to what is politically possible. It has wiped away living worlds before.

Getting emissions to zero will be maddeningly difficult, but the alternative is a derangement of the carbon cycle.

Reposted by John Hogan, Els Torreele

Ann Pettifor @annpettifor.bsky.social · 1d

Low income countries are enduring the worst sovereign debt crisis ever….debt service absorbs an average of 43% of budget revenues paid to foreign and domestic creditors. Germany got debt relief after World War 2 benefitting both Germany & EU.

Africa needs the same.

www.ft.com/content/1637...

Letter: Can Africa’s creditors learn from Germany’s debt deal?

From Ann Pettifor, Ex-Director, Jubilee 2000 campaign, 1997-2000, London NW1, UK

Reposted by Wolfgang Crämer, Els Torreele

Scientifiques en rébellion @scientifiquesenrebellion.fr · 1d

💥 LE FINAL de notre action « Fin de la COP30 : Jour de Colère » - à regarder jusqu’au bout 💙.

@scientifiquesenrebellion.fr et l'Orchestre du nouveau monde jouent le Dies Irae de Verdi après de 8h de lectures de textes scientifiques lors d'une action de 10h marquant les 10 ans de l'Accord de Paris.

Reposted by Els Torreele

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

The biggest divide is not between “right” and “left." It’s between democracy and oligarchy. The billionaires who control our economy and democracy seek to divide us. They want us to turn on each other so we don't look up and see that they have all the wealth and power.

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Meredith Broussard, Daniel Kim , and 6 more Shannon Vallor, Meredith Broussard, Daniel Kim, Juan Cole, Els Torreele, David Murakami Wood, Henrik Skaug Sætra, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, David Spurrett

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 2d

“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”

Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege - The Economic Times

Meta reportedly halted internal research into the mental health impacts of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence of harm. Internal documents revealed users reported lower depression and...

m.economictimes.com

Reposted by Els Torreele, Glenda Sluga

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 2d

Every year, around Climate COP conference, I remember this street art by Isaac Cordal

"Politicians discussing climate change"

Reposted by Els Torreele

David Graeber Institute @davidgraeberinst.bsky.social · 2d

Why is the priority of the economy not to house the homeless and ensure everyone has good healthcare?

it used to be the economy was the way we provide people with food shelters and other necessities to keep them alive. now we are all supposed to die for the sake of the ecomy. What is this thing they are talking about. is it just code for rich people. class power, or what.

Reposted by Marina Jirotka, Jussi T. Eronen, Els Torreele , and 2 more Marina Jirotka, Jussi T. Eronen, Els Torreele, Sheila R. Foster, Alicia Donnellan Barraclough

Sabrina Fernandes @sabrinafernandes.com · 2d

COP30 overpromised, underdelivered, empowered distractions, backtracked on issues and once again gave big oil and big ag a free pass.

Unfortunately, the suspicions of climate scientists (here in Brazil and abroad) were confirmed again.

Reposted by David Johnson, Gerald Friedman, Els Torreele

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 2d

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

-FDR, 1937

Reposted by Els Torreele

alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social @alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social · 3d

Former Brexit Party MEP #NathanGill has been sentenced to 10,5 yrs in prison for taking Russian bribes while he was in office at the EP. Whatsapp messages revealed he had received over €45,000 from #OlegVoloshyn He was bribed to make pro-Russian statements www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/1... #AfD

Former Brexit MEP jailed for 10 years for taking Russian bribes

A series of Whatsapp messages revealed that the British MEP had received over €45,000 from an alleged Russian asset to make pro-Kremlin statements.

www.brusselstimes.com

Reposted by Raffaella Ravinetto, Els Torreele

Udo Schuklenk @schuklenk.bsky.social · 4d

Physical Accessibility of Medicines in Countries Hosting Trials for FDA Approvals url: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Important paper, if unsurprising findings… some things never change

Physical Accessibility of Medicines in Countries Hosting Trials for FDA Approvals

This cross-sectional study aims to determine whether and when medicines receive market authorization in the countries where they are tested for US Food and Drug Administration approval, as well as tre...

jamanetwork.com

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Meri Koivusalo, Els Torreele

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 5d

Extraordinary that the Texas government would be so corrupt that it would have to black out more than 80% of its emails with Elon Musk.

ProPublica @propublica.org · 6d

NEW: After fighting to keep emails between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office and billionaire Elon Musk’s companies secret, officials have released nearly 1,400 pages of documents to The Texas Newsroom.

All but about 200 pages are blacked out.

Gov. Greg Abbott Was Ordered to Release Some of His Emails With Elon Musk. Most Are Blacked Out.

Months after fighting to keep secret emails between Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk, Texas officials released 1,400 pages of records. But they reveal little about the two men’s relationship or Musk’s influence over state government.

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Els Torreele

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 6d

Both political forces want to get rid of NGOs that are advocating for protective EU rules on issues related to health, environment and climate + are the same political groups that are pushing the deregulation agenda and weakening all kinds of protective rules.
corporateeurope.org/en/2025/11/b...

Boycott the EP’s Scrutiny Working Group on NGOs | Corporate Europe Observatory

CEO joins 30+ organisations asking the political groups in the European Parliament to boycott the new scrutiny working group on NGOs.

corporateeurope.org

Reposted by Els Torreele

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) @corporateeurope.org · 6d

"The new scrutiny working group (SWG) on NGOs in the European parliament as set up by the far-right & EPP should be boycotted by the other political groups.This SWG is nothing more than a political translation of the smear campaign against civil society by the far-right", says CEO's Hans van Scharen

Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 7d

A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.

www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...

CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination

Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

Oliver Classen @oliclassen.bsky.social · 7d

50 years after the baby formula scandal, @publiceye.ch shows that, regarding sugar, a similar malpractice continues.

In an open letter, 19 civil society organisations in 13 countries are calling on Nestlé to put an end to inacceptable double standard.

www.publiceye.ch/en/topics/cr...

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Meredith Broussard, Ian Hall , and 10 more Joanna Bryson, Meredith Broussard, Ian Hall, Paul E. Smaldino, Cathy N. Davidson, Melanie C. Green, Alan Richardson, Els Torreele, Michael H. Whitworth, David Murakami Wood, Gary Sheffield, Frederik Dhondt, Elisa Freschi

Felipe Gaona @felipegaonar.bsky.social · 11d

Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.

Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."

Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally

A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...

Reposted by Els Torreele

Health Policy Watch - Global health news reporting @healthpolicywatch.bsky.social · 11d

🌍 Brazil launches the Belém Health Action Plan at #COP30 — a roadmap to protect 3.3B people from climate-driven health threats.

But nations offered zero new finance. Only a $300M philanthropic pledge vs >$11B/yr needed for a basic plan.

@cleanairfund.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social
📖⬇️ & 🙏🔁

Brazil Wins Limited Backing For COP30 Climate-Health Plan, But Nations Commit No Finance - Health Policy Watch

Brazil launched a sweeping climate-health action plan on Thursday, named after the COP30 host city in the Amazon, winning initial endorsements from roughly

healthpolicy-watch.news

Reposted by Els Torreele

euobserver — EU news that matters @euobserver.com · 12d

The European Parliament’s biggest political group, the centre-right European People’s Party, has teamed up with the far right to roll back major parts of the EU’s green corporate rulebook.

EU conservatives join far-right to gut green rules

The European Parliament’s biggest political group, the centre-right European People’s Party, has teamed up with the far right to roll back major parts of the EU’s green corporate rulebook.

Reposted by Beatriz Gallardo Paúls, Els Torreele, Clean Clothes Campaign

European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) @eccjorg.bsky.social · 12d

🚨For the first time, @europarl.europa.eu has adopted a legislative mandate thanks to an alliance between conservatives & the far right

This vote marks a dangerous turning point for EU democracy. When anti-EU forces & lobbies write the rules, accountability dies
corporatejustice.org/news/press-r...

PRESS RELEASE European Parliament’s far-right alliance adopts position on Omnibus I: Corporate capture on full display, written for the few not for people or planet - ECCJ

corporatejustice.org

Reposted by Els Torreele

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · 12d

“Policies that favour the interests of the working class are disregarded as a fantasy, whereas those that push wealth and power towards the rich are seen as a realistic status quo.”

My col. on a politics and media that normalises Reform and dismisses the Greens. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Labour’s rebuttal to the Green party this week sums up the double standard that dogs our politics | Frances Ryan

Why is it that the politics of hope offered up by the left is dismissed as naive, while the policies of the centre and right are portrayed as all that is possible? asks Guardian columnist Frances Ryan

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Raffaella Ravinetto, Richard Larouche, Els Torreele

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 12d

The fact that children in 2025 are suffering from diseases that should have been consigned to history is not just a public health failure. It is a moral failure.

www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/c...

Kids have a right to vaccinations. Let's bring in the lawyers

Children suffering from diseases that should have been consigned to history is a moral failure. Access to vaccines is a human right.

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Colin F. Camerer, Els Torreele, Brian Keegan

Brooke Harrington @ebharrington.bsky.social · 12d

What the Epstein files show is the *solidarity* of many men-across class, race, religion, profession & party affiliation-in the global political project of keeping the boot on women's necks.

People have no problem understanding class solidarity among the rich. Why can't they see gender solidarity?

Molly McKew @mollymckew.bsky.social · 12d

Like I dunno, maybe the reason it took a lady to break open the story of all the men protecting the dude trafficking underage girls is because the male journos were all emailing him making jokes about it?

Reposted by Els Torreele

just2crazy.bsky.social @just2crazy.bsky.social · 12d

For all is MAGA fans.

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Alan Richardson, Els Torreele , and 2 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Alan Richardson, Els Torreele, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Lorna Hughes

maura quint @mauraquint.bsky.social · 13d

One of my earliest moments of radicalization was in 2005 when Larry Summers said that women biologically have less aptitude for science than men. Following that, scores of equally unimpressive people wrote pieces trying to explain or justify his remarks, when they should have called for his removal.

Reposted by Els Torreele

Dr Oddman - Fighting Fascism @droddman.bsky.social · 13d

The EU has let US tech giants run riot. Diluting our data law will only entrench their power

The GDPR is Europe’s defence against digital oligarchy, child harm and foreign political interference. Deregulation plans are misguided
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The EU has let US tech giants run riot. Diluting our data law will only entrench their power | Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles

The GDPR is Europe’s defence against digital oligarchy and child harm. Deregulation plans are misguided, say Johnny Ryan and Georg Riekeles

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

Wemos @wemos.org · 15d

💊💰🔎 What is needed to improve pharma market transparency?

Some answers from our event with @hai-org.bsky.social at the European Parliament, co-hosted by MEPs Romana Jerković and @tillymetz.bsky.social:

🤝 More international collaboration
💪 Political will
📜 Binding obligations

Let's make it happen!

Reposted by Els Torreele

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 15d

Every personal attack.

Every attempt to distract or to divide.

It energises, strengthens and empowers our movement.

Lower bills. Tax billionaires. Join us.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The right can mock my teeth all it wants – it shows the Greens have struck a nerve | Zack Polanski

As a politician, I expect opposition and debate. But when it centres on personal insults, not policies, something else is going on, says the leader of the Green party, Zack Polanski

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Els Torreele

RichardJR @electricbluesfan.bsky.social · 17d

10/10 Usrof: "without reform this process will not save the world, and instead, will just help bury it.”

The UN responded that "national governments have sole authority to decide who is in their delegations."

By Nina Lakhani, The Guardian www.theguardian.com/environment/...

How thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists got access to UN climate talks – and then kept drilling

Exclusive: Research shows oil, gas and coal firms’ unprecedented access to Cop26-29, blocking urgent climate action

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Jonathan A. Eisen, Axel Bruns, Kelly R. Zamudio , and 10 more Jonathan A. Eisen, Axel Bruns, Kelly R. Zamudio, John McLaren, Smith, Jérôme Denis, Rebecca Tushnet, Carlos Nunes Silva, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Els Torreele, Ryan K. Brook, Pieter Vantieghem, Anne Hilborn

Terry McGlynn @hormiga.bsky.social · 17d

Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...

DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments

“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”