Ben Barclay
@benbarclay.bsky.social
Translator and textbook writer. Post on climate, energy, health, Spain, Brexit and other stuff.
Produce VoiceMap audio tours of Andalucía: https://voicemap.me/publisher/ben-barclay#tours
Substack: https://thegreentransition.substack.com/
Produce VoiceMap audio tours of Andalucía: https://voicemap.me/publisher/ben-barclay#tours
Substack: https://thegreentransition.substack.com/
Pinned
Ben Barclay
@benbarclay.bsky.social
· Dec 31
It’s been a year of ups and too many downs for the world, but on a personal level it’s been fantastic criss-crossing Andalucia to research and test 7 new audio tours.
Here’s a quick reminder why you should visit these 7 fantastic places even if you have no interest in doing one of my tours.
🧵
Here’s a quick reminder why you should visit these 7 fantastic places even if you have no interest in doing one of my tours.
🧵
The potential loss of the right to appeal seems more dangerous, particularly if you couple it with a system that makes conviction more likely in the first place.
As I say, I don’t claim any expertise and am open to other views.
It does seem part of a pattern of this govt…
1/
As I say, I don’t claim any expertise and am open to other views.
It does seem part of a pattern of this govt…
1/
Question is also 1/1 judge vs 10/11-12, 9/10 or 7-8/8 jurors finding you guilty.
Without claiming any expertise, you would think statistically a defendant‘’s chances are better with a jury, even if in some cases the opposite will be true.
And if true, whether it’s good or bad is open to debate.
Without claiming any expertise, you would think statistically a defendant‘’s chances are better with a jury, even if in some cases the opposite will be true.
And if true, whether it’s good or bad is open to debate.
November 26, 2025 at 7:05 AM
The potential loss of the right to appeal seems more dangerous, particularly if you couple it with a system that makes conviction more likely in the first place.
As I say, I don’t claim any expertise and am open to other views.
It does seem part of a pattern of this govt…
1/
As I say, I don’t claim any expertise and am open to other views.
It does seem part of a pattern of this govt…
1/
Reposted by Ben Barclay
It’s not actually that far from other things Tate has said so it didn’t feel notable enough to debunk yesterday. But now that we’re moving to day two of this circulating, this tweet is fake.
November 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
It’s not actually that far from other things Tate has said so it didn’t feel notable enough to debunk yesterday. But now that we’re moving to day two of this circulating, this tweet is fake.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
CATL breaks ground on battery plant in Spain
About 2,000 Chinese workers will participate in the factory's construction, with production expected to start by late 2026, according to Reuters. cnev.co/ERJE3MZ 👇
About 2,000 Chinese workers will participate in the factory's construction, with production expected to start by late 2026, according to Reuters. cnev.co/ERJE3MZ 👇
CATL breaks ground on battery plant in Spain
About 2,000 Chinese workers will participate in the factory's construction, with production expected to start by late 2026, according to Reuters.
cnev.co
November 26, 2025 at 6:31 AM
CATL breaks ground on battery plant in Spain
About 2,000 Chinese workers will participate in the factory's construction, with production expected to start by late 2026, according to Reuters. cnev.co/ERJE3MZ 👇
About 2,000 Chinese workers will participate in the factory's construction, with production expected to start by late 2026, according to Reuters. cnev.co/ERJE3MZ 👇
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Gove has been an extremely poisonous influence on our politics. Undermining expert consensus on Brexit [had enough of experts, etc] and lying his way through the whole process in the aftermath of the Referendum. A travesty that he is on this panel of judges assessing political writing.
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Gove has been an extremely poisonous influence on our politics. Undermining expert consensus on Brexit [had enough of experts, etc] and lying his way through the whole process in the aftermath of the Referendum. A travesty that he is on this panel of judges assessing political writing.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
To illustrate how disingenuous this campaign is
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
To illustrate how disingenuous this campaign is
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
Reposted by Ben Barclay
A small but significant step: Dutch national broadcaster NOS is leaving X.
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
NOS plaatst vanaf vandaag geen nieuwsberichten meer op X - Over NOS
De NOS en Nieuwsuur (NOS/NTR) zijn gestopt met posten op X. Het platform past niet meer bij onze visie op...
over.nos.nl
November 25, 2025 at 11:13 AM
A small but significant step: Dutch national broadcaster NOS is leaving X.
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
Reposted by Ben Barclay
What does glacier fieldwork look like for @matthias-huss.bsky.social , head of #GLAMOS? 🧊📏
Politiken followed him on #PlaineMorte, where he documents the beauty, and rapid loss, of Swiss ice.
📄 politiken.dk/edition/news...
Politiken followed him on #PlaineMorte, where he documents the beauty, and rapid loss, of Swiss ice.
📄 politiken.dk/edition/news...
November 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
What does glacier fieldwork look like for @matthias-huss.bsky.social , head of #GLAMOS? 🧊📏
Politiken followed him on #PlaineMorte, where he documents the beauty, and rapid loss, of Swiss ice.
📄 politiken.dk/edition/news...
Politiken followed him on #PlaineMorte, where he documents the beauty, and rapid loss, of Swiss ice.
📄 politiken.dk/edition/news...
Reposted by Ben Barclay
The Nepalese EV transition.
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
November 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The Nepalese EV transition.
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
In simple terms, brown on this graph is India's share and blue is China's share.
The trigger? India effectively halted all imports of petroleum into Nepal in 2015, an "undeclared blockade", which was "masked as constitutional concern".
robbieandrew.github.io/carsales/
Surprise, surprise.
"The cost of removing large quantities of CO2 from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped.
This is the conclusion reached by @ethz.ch researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace"
This is the conclusion reached by @ethz.ch researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace"
Cost of direct air carbon capture to remain higher than hoped
The cost of removing large quantities of CO2 from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped. This is the conclusion reached by ETH researchers on the basis of new calcu...
ethz.ch
November 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Surprise, surprise.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Large parts of Sri Lanka are likely to see exceptional rainfall through the coming days, with some areas seeing more than one month's worth of rainfall within 4 days ⤵️
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Large parts of Sri Lanka are likely to see exceptional rainfall through the coming days, with some areas seeing more than one month's worth of rainfall within 4 days ⤵️
Reposted by Ben Barclay
In many of the red wall towns Labour is desperate to hold, the university is major employer, often the biggest employer. If it were a steel mill, the government would be falling over itself to pump in money, but because it's a university they're happy to see it die on its arse.
Obviously this government are wantonly reckless and idiotic and their treatment of universities, and see this as a disciplining of an out of touch elite.
But what all of this unwillingness to intervene means is that a critical industry will collapse and a lot of ordinary people will be unemployed.
But what all of this unwillingness to intervene means is that a critical industry will collapse and a lot of ordinary people will be unemployed.
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
November 25, 2025 at 1:02 PM
In many of the red wall towns Labour is desperate to hold, the university is major employer, often the biggest employer. If it were a steel mill, the government would be falling over itself to pump in money, but because it's a university they're happy to see it die on its arse.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
📣New data shows London cycling is soaring:
📈 12% up from last year to 1,500,000 daily journeys
📈 that's 43% up from 2019
🚲Cycleway Network grows to 431km (up from 90km in 2016)
😎 & 76% of London cyclists feel safe our routes
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
📈 12% up from last year to 1,500,000 daily journeys
📈 that's 43% up from 2019
🚲Cycleway Network grows to 431km (up from 90km in 2016)
😎 & 76% of London cyclists feel safe our routes
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 7:23 AM
📣New data shows London cycling is soaring:
📈 12% up from last year to 1,500,000 daily journeys
📈 that's 43% up from 2019
🚲Cycleway Network grows to 431km (up from 90km in 2016)
😎 & 76% of London cyclists feel safe our routes
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
📈 12% up from last year to 1,500,000 daily journeys
📈 that's 43% up from 2019
🚲Cycleway Network grows to 431km (up from 90km in 2016)
😎 & 76% of London cyclists feel safe our routes
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Barclay
This is the lowest support for Reform in a YouGov poll since April
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 25% (-2)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 18% (+1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 15% (+2)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 23-24 Nov.
Changes w/ 16-17 Nov.
RFM: 25% (-2)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 18% (+1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 15% (+2)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 23-24 Nov.
Changes w/ 16-17 Nov.
November 25, 2025 at 10:47 AM
This is the lowest support for Reform in a YouGov poll since April
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Massive 20 GWh #Sodium-ionBattery manufacturing plant announced in China.👍
#Energysky #renewables #Batteries
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/24/m...
#Energysky #renewables #Batteries
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/24/m...
Massive 20 GWh sodium-ion battery manufacturing plant announced in China
After last year’s slowdown, investment in China’s sodium-ion battery sector is rebounding in 2025, and one of the biggest projects yet has now entered the development pipeline.
www.pv-magazine.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Massive 20 GWh #Sodium-ionBattery manufacturing plant announced in China.👍
#Energysky #renewables #Batteries
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/24/m...
#Energysky #renewables #Batteries
www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/24/m...
“Total EU car sales rose 5.8%. Registrations of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric cars were up 38.6%, 43.2% and 9.4%, respectively, to account collectively for about 63.9% of the bloc's registrations, up from 55.4% in October 2024.”
Petrol and diesel sales fell.
Petrol and diesel sales fell.
European car sales rise 4.9% in October, ACEA says reut.rs/4orSkVG
European car sales rise 4.9% in October, ACEA says
New car sales in Europe rose 4.9% in October as electric cars outpaced petrol and diesel registrations, European Automobile Manufacturers' Association data showed on Tuesday.
reut.rs
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 AM
“Total EU car sales rose 5.8%. Registrations of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric cars were up 38.6%, 43.2% and 9.4%, respectively, to account collectively for about 63.9% of the bloc's registrations, up from 55.4% in October 2024.”
Petrol and diesel sales fell.
Petrol and diesel sales fell.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
The outbreak in Ethiopia is #Marburg virus, the first such outbreak for this country. 9 cases so far, including some health workers. x.com/drtedros/sta...
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X: "#Ethiopia has confirmed the outbreak that has infected at least 9 people in the south of the country is of #Marburg virus disease. I commend Ethiopia’s @FMoHealth for its rapid and transparent response to the outbreak, and the work of the Ethiopia Public Health Institute and" / X
#Ethiopia has confirmed the outbreak that has infected at least 9 people in the south of the country is of #Marburg virus disease. I commend Ethiopia’s @FMoHealth for its rapid and transparent response to the outbreak, and the work of the Ethiopia Public Health Institute and
x.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The outbreak in Ethiopia is #Marburg virus, the first such outbreak for this country. 9 cases so far, including some health workers. x.com/drtedros/sta...
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Today the Australian Financial Review published a single-source article on a Gina Rinehart speech bagging BHP & Rio Tinto, #climate action etc and not even 2 of Australia's biggest mining companies - let alone anyone else - gets a right of reply
A really low-grade puff piece #auspol
A really low-grade puff piece #auspol
November 25, 2025 at 6:03 AM
First, this is wrong. Second, you really think that people who have made it from Afghanistan or Eritrea will be stopped by this? Crypto (one of its few uses), transfers by friends/acquaintances and if necessary criminal gangs taking a cut…
Trevor Phillips proposes banning "remittances" (ie: imposing currency/exchange controls on international cash transfers by foreign nationals from Britain). He says this would disincentivise immigration, in a Times piece saying the Home Secretary needs to go [much] further
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
First, this is wrong. Second, you really think that people who have made it from Afghanistan or Eritrea will be stopped by this? Crypto (one of its few uses), transfers by friends/acquaintances and if necessary criminal gangs taking a cut…
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Jamaica is seeing an outbreak of leptospirosis, just one of the many, many ways severe Melissa hits wll sicken and kill people there over the coming months and years
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Jamaica is seeing an outbreak of leptospirosis, just one of the many, many ways severe Melissa hits wll sicken and kill people there over the coming months and years
This is, even by recent standards, astonishingly blatant.
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
November 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This is, even by recent standards, astonishingly blatant.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
This year's #Arctic sea ice freeze-up is clearly the latest on record for the Baffin Bay region (located between Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago). The extent of ice cover is a record low for the date there.
Data from @nsidc.bsky.social at nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
Data from @nsidc.bsky.social at nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
This year's #Arctic sea ice freeze-up is clearly the latest on record for the Baffin Bay region (located between Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago). The extent of ice cover is a record low for the date there.
Data from @nsidc.bsky.social at nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
Data from @nsidc.bsky.social at nsidc.org/data/seaice_...
Reposted by Ben Barclay
And so it begins...
Maybe/hopefully.
Maybe/hopefully.
Malaysia plans to bar children under the age of 16 from social media starting next year, with a close eye to how Australia implements and enforces a similar ban that takes effect next month. Here's what to know.
Malaysia to Ban Children Under 16 From Social Media, Echoing Australia
The announcement on Sunday, which was light on details, came weeks before a similar action takes effect in Australia.
nyti.ms
November 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
And so it begins...
Maybe/hopefully.
Maybe/hopefully.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
What I find annoying about UK-based "wither German industry" pieces is they never drill down into details of German supply chains
This piece highlights how other EU states are doing OK in industrial production without considering how far their supply chains are intertwined with German manufacturers
This piece highlights how other EU states are doing OK in industrial production without considering how far their supply chains are intertwined with German manufacturers
What's the matter with Germany? Because it's not what you think it is.
on.ft.com/4raAAk3
on.ft.com/4raAAk3
Germany’s problems are worse than you think
[FREE TO READ] It’s not as simple as blaming the unravelling of the global trading system
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
What I find annoying about UK-based "wither German industry" pieces is they never drill down into details of German supply chains
This piece highlights how other EU states are doing OK in industrial production without considering how far their supply chains are intertwined with German manufacturers
This piece highlights how other EU states are doing OK in industrial production without considering how far their supply chains are intertwined with German manufacturers
Reposted by Ben Barclay
We're now looking at multi year lows.
Front month (Dec contract) at 76.3p/th. If it sheds another 0.2p (and closes below that level), you have to go back to late 2021 to find a corresponding price level.
That was the early bit of Gazprom's EU market destruction stage of the energy crisis.
Front month (Dec contract) at 76.3p/th. If it sheds another 0.2p (and closes below that level), you have to go back to late 2021 to find a corresponding price level.
That was the early bit of Gazprom's EU market destruction stage of the energy crisis.
UK front month gas prices are moving into year+ low territory.
Not by much, granted, but the December contract (now front month) hasn't closed sub-80p/th since Feb-24 and sits at 79.8-ish now.
Loads of regas capacity, plus loads of supply (and relatively low global competition) equals...
Not by much, granted, but the December contract (now front month) hasn't closed sub-80p/th since Feb-24 and sits at 79.8-ish now.
Loads of regas capacity, plus loads of supply (and relatively low global competition) equals...
November 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
We're now looking at multi year lows.
Front month (Dec contract) at 76.3p/th. If it sheds another 0.2p (and closes below that level), you have to go back to late 2021 to find a corresponding price level.
That was the early bit of Gazprom's EU market destruction stage of the energy crisis.
Front month (Dec contract) at 76.3p/th. If it sheds another 0.2p (and closes below that level), you have to go back to late 2021 to find a corresponding price level.
That was the early bit of Gazprom's EU market destruction stage of the energy crisis.
Doesn't Hitchens live in Oxford? Anyway, I'm glad he's taking the risk of AMOC collapse seriously, even if I don't agree with the response.
November 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Doesn't Hitchens live in Oxford? Anyway, I'm glad he's taking the risk of AMOC collapse seriously, even if I don't agree with the response.