Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Thinking Doing Changing @tashahester.bsky.social · Mar 31

Let’s face it, we’re losing! Words of wisdom here from @tomliacas.bsky.social. We need to accept the populist far right is having its moment, then we can respond & build power. History has sone pretty good lessons to teach us… medium.com/@TomLiacas/l...

Let’s face it, we’re losing!

I promised an article on how the Right built back its power and the first thing they did was to accept that they were losing. It’s our turn…

medium.com

2 2

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Avi Lewis @avilewis.ca · Mar 20

Thank goodness for @rondeibert.bsky.social‬ and @citizenlab.ca.

For years they’ve been shining a light on creepy government surveillance around the world and this is coming home, big time.

bsky.app/profile/rond...

#surveillance #cdnpoli #vancouver

🧵 1.

Ron Deibert @rondeibert.bsky.social · Mar 12

"The U.S. Wants Canada to Become A Police State
Appeasing Trump’s border demands only emboldens authoritarians worldwide. Here’s why we must resist."

My new piece for @macleans.bsky.social
macleans.ca/politics/the...

The U.S. Wants Canada to Become A Police State - Macleans.ca

Appeasing Trump's border demands only emboldens authoritarians worldwide. Here's why we must resist.

macleans.ca

3 9 21

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Mar 17

This really gives me hope! Organized and funded networks of resistance to the creep of authoritarianism right in the heart of MAGA country. convergencemag.com/articles/fro...

From Rural America With Love: An Invitation to Bravery

Rural organizers and volunteer leaders are building the Rural Defenders Union, a network of isolated, under-resourced, anti-authoritarian rural efforts.

convergencemag.com

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Mar 14

H/T to friend @jasonmogus.bsky.social for sending this my way. For organizers in the U.S. looking from whence the Resistance to fascism will come, Nolan has some clear-eyed takes. In short, it will not come from those who have a lot to lose under the current system. substack.com/home/post/p-...

The More You Have, the Less You Fight

Who will and will not save us.

substack.com

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Feb 25

Highlighting THIS:

1 2

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Feb 25

What's on every progressive organizer's mind right now, or should be! mobilisationlab.org/building-a-s...

Building a Strategy to Contest the Far Right - MobLab

Building the power of changemakers to confront today's greatest challenges

mobilisationlab.org

1 1 1

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Alex Neve @alexneve.bsky.social · Feb 18

We need to hear unconditional opposition to this sinister ploy
Justin Trudeau & @melaniejoly.bsky.social.

A "directorate" for "voluntary" departures from Gaza?

Where was that "extensive assistance" for getting out while genocide was raging?

Netanyahu says Israel committed to Trump’s ‘take over’ Gaza plan

Israeli PM hails US push to build ‘different Gaza’ as defence minister unveils plan for ‘departure’ of Palestinians.

www.aljazeera.com

2 5

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Feb 11

I wrote a thing where I use dogs to explain the strategic rift dividing progressives at a time when we can't afford to be divided. Bear with me, I think I'm on to something!

medium.com/@TomLiacas/w...

Why can’t we agree on ‘what is to be done’, when everything is on fire?

I’m using dogs to explain the rift in strategic thinking within progressive circles today. Bear with me I think I’m on to something!

medium.com

1

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · Feb 10

Not exaggerating when I say I would like a personal, handwritten apology from every pundit who barfed out a dozen "the left wants to change the way you talk!" op-eds based on non-mandatory guidelines in obscure PDFs.

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · Feb 10

2. A memo distributed by NSA leadership to its staff says that on February 10, all NSA websites and internal network pages that contain banned words will be deleted.

This is the list of 27 banned words distributed to NSA staff:

Anti-Racism
Racism
Allyship
Bias
DEI
Diversity
Diverse
Confirmation Bias
Equity
Equitableness
Feminism
Gender
Gender Identity
Inclusion
Inclusive
All-Inclusive
Inclusivity
Injustice
Intersectionality
Prejudice
Privilege
Racial Identity
Sexuality
Stereotypes
Pronouns
Transgender
Equality

700 6.9K 24K

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Feb 6

LOL!!

The Onion @theonion.com · Feb 5

FBI Uncovers Al-Qaeda Plot To Just Sit Back And Enjoy Collapse Of United States

WASHINGTON—Putting the nation on alert against what it has described as a “highly credible terrorist threat,” the FBI announced today that it has uncovered a plot by members of al-Qaeda to sit back an...

theonion.com

1

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Uncle Rico Dynamite @unclericodynamite.bsky.social · Jan 30

#ClassConsciousness 101

170 4.9K 28K

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Elise Gravel @elisegravel.bsky.social · Jan 30

J'ai écrit à Haroun Bouazzi ce matin. Je regrette de ne pas l'avoir fait avant.

6 11 150

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Jelena Brankovic @jelena3121.bsky.social · Jan 28

Students in Serbia are at the forefront of nationwide protests and institutional occupations, which have brought higher education—and the whole country—to a halt.

I wrote a text explaining what it is all about, please read & share, thank you! 🤝

#students #highered #Serbia

Inside the student blockades in Serbia

Over the past two months, students in Serbia have been at the forefront of nationwide protests and institutional occupations, bringing higher education in the country to a standstill. The protests hav...

wonkhe.com

4 71 140

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Jan 23

My GGSN colleague Kenzie Harris is one of those vital people working as an 'activist librarian' - someone who curates useful and actionable knowledge in response to activist challenges. More about this in her own words on this great podcast from Commons Library! open.spotify.com/episode/7MZz...

Winning Climate Justice Campaigns with Kenzie Harris

Commons Conversations Podcast · Episode

open.spotify.com

2

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Jan 17

As awful things and awful people join forces around us, one thing that keeps me sane is the knowledge that good people who value justice, care, solidarity and a healthy planet, will also join forces to fight this.
Example here: thesurgeinternational.net
h/t @tashahester.bsky.social

Banner depicting The Surge mobilisation's web page. By lines are: Unite. Organise. Disrupt. Protest mobilising against fascism, climate chaos, genocide, and war.

2

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Jan 8

Some smart political advice for progressive folks in Canada facing a gloomy election soon. medium.com/@hussansk/we...

We Can Defeat Poilievre’s Agenda: Here’s How

Six steps we can take now to stop a destructive Conservative majority

medium.com

1 1

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Jan 6

Great new report from HUB colleague @amandahsanchez.bsky.social on capacity needs and future development strategies to build out Canada's climate justice activist movement! (no doubt relevant across borders) www.lehub.ca/media/moveme...
cc @tashahester.bsky.social

3 2

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Dec 31

Creative resistance tactics in Kenya and a rundown of attempted government repression measures: The Rise of Silhouettes Activism in Kenya open.substack.com/pub/juliusok...

The Rise of Silhouettes Activism in Kenya: A Double-Edged Sword

In recent times, Kenyan social actors on the front lines have leveraged the power of visual communication and the reach of online platforms to challenge the status quo and demand a more just and equit...

open.substack.com

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Elise Gravel @elisegravel.bsky.social · Dec 30

Jimmy Carter est le seul président américain a avoir eu le courage de critiquer à de multiples reprises le violent colonialisme d'Israël et l'apartheid en Palestine. Souhaitons qu'il ne soit pas le dernier.

1 5 42

Reposted by Tom Liacas (he-il)

Elise Gravel @elisegravel.bsky.social · Dec 10

"Mais personne dans la gauche québécoise ne défend le machisme, la misogynie et l’homophobie, peu importe le pays d’origine. En ce moment, le seul discours défendant ouvertement le machisme, la misogynie et l’homophobie, on le retrouve chez les masculinistes qui sont résolument anti-gauche."

Denis Vallières 🍉 🏴 @deniscvallieres.bsky.social · Dec 10

Pendant qu’on dit de la gauche qu’elle creuse sa propre tombe, on ne regarde pas la droite creuser celle d’une humanité qui, sous sa gouverne, accélère la destruction de l’écosystème.

Répliqué d’Alexandre Dumas au billet récent de Boucar Diouf.
alexandredumashistorien4.wordpress.com/2024/12/09/l...

La gauche et ses gérants d’estrade

Une bonne dizaine de personnes m’ont pointé la dernière chronique de Boucar Diouf comme un argument massue devant me faire taire. Je me sens donc obligé d’y répondre. La gauche doit sou…

alexandredumashistorien4.wordpress.com

6 18 120

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Dec 9

Lots of love for the courageous work of Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition, Independent Jewish Voices, and If Not Now!
ricochet.media/politics/not...

‘Not business as usual’: Jewish peace activists occupy Parliament Hill

Read about Jewish peace activists as they occupy Parliament Hill to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide in Israel.

ricochet.media

1

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Dec 9

Pendant que les valeurs de solidarité et d'ouverture sont menacées au Québec, j'ai choisi d'appuyer cet organisme qui soutien les demandeuses d'asile en situation précaire. Faites un don avant les fêtes, c'est bon pour le moral ! #immigration #polqc www.canadahelps.org/fr/organisme...

Le Collectif Bienvenue, c'est nous tous et toutes

Le Collectif Bienvenue, c'est nous tous et nous toutes – les Montréalais·es qui croient que nous devrions construire une plus grande table plutôt que des murs, qui croient que peu importe d'où vous ve...

www.canadahelps.org

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Nov 27

A principled power move by a team of awesome tech-for social-change folks. Bravo 👏👏👏

New/Mode @newmode.bsky.social · Nov 26

We have an announcement to make.

New/Mode is Shutting Down Our popular Twitter/X Advocacy Tool.

X has increasingly become a space that amplifies far-right extremist views.

You can read a longer statement on this change from a post below.
www.newmode.net/blog/newmode...

New/Mode is Shutting Down Our Twitter/X Advocacy Tool

As of February 15, 2025, New/Mode will no longer offer a Twitter/X Advocacy Tool. X has increasingly become a space that amplifies far-right extremist views.

www.newmode.net

1 1

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Nov 25

Thanks for the boost, @tashahester.bsky.social! Don't miss this global exchange on how NGOs can do better supporting grassroots advocacy-activist groups.

Thinking Doing Changing @tashahester.bsky.social · Nov 25

In an NGO that would love to engage with grassroots groups but don't know how? In a grassroots group that can see how powerful it would be to harness the power of NGOs, but you don't trust they would actually collaborate with you? The Global Grassroots Support Network has an event for you!

2 2

Tom Liacas (he-il) @tomliacas.bsky.social · Nov 20

Refreshing to read that some are still pursuing simple and timeless rituals of life in the midst of all this planetary craziness. May we all, each in our own way, become the ham (or veg) sandwich man.

Elise Gravel @elisegravel.bsky.social · Nov 18

bsky.app/profile/last...

lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · Nov 18

2