Brett Favaro
@brettfavaro.bsky.social
Conservation scientist. Tweets about climate, oceans, & sustainable development. Views my own, and do not necessarily reflect views of employer. He/him.
In honour of the news that they are inexplicably making a Gaston movie, here's the sketch of the day
December 19, 2025 at 6:31 AM
In honour of the news that they are inexplicably making a Gaston movie, here's the sketch of the day
I have had a national observer subscription for years. Easy "yes" every time it's up for renewal.
It has been so gratifying to work with the incredible staff at @nationalobserver.com as EIC this year. I published this letter to our readers and supporters to document some of the impact we had this year and plans for 2026.
Some highlights:
Some highlights:
A letter from Jimmy Thomson on impact
As editor-in-chief, I believe you have a right to know how we’ve spent your dollars. But how to quantify impact when so much of what we do happens inside the minds of the people we reach?
www.nationalobserver.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:19 AM
I have had a national observer subscription for years. Easy "yes" every time it's up for renewal.
Reposted by Brett Favaro
MIT Professor Nuno F. Loureiro was shot multiple times in his Brookline, Mass home last night. He passed away this morning. Professor Loureiro was one of the world's leading experts in Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion. There is no suspect in custody.
MIT professor shot and killed in Massachusetts home
YouTube video by CBS Boston
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:57 PM
MIT Professor Nuno F. Loureiro was shot multiple times in his Brookline, Mass home last night. He passed away this morning. Professor Loureiro was one of the world's leading experts in Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion. There is no suspect in custody.
As an elder millennial with vivid memories of 9/11 and the runup to the Iraq war, I have to say: it feels very surreal how they're not even bothering to manufacture consent this time
It's just going to be a war of naked aggression. No plausible reason given. Coverage totally muted.
It's just going to be a war of naked aggression. No plausible reason given. Coverage totally muted.
December 17, 2025 at 2:34 AM
As an elder millennial with vivid memories of 9/11 and the runup to the Iraq war, I have to say: it feels very surreal how they're not even bothering to manufacture consent this time
It's just going to be a war of naked aggression. No plausible reason given. Coverage totally muted.
It's just going to be a war of naked aggression. No plausible reason given. Coverage totally muted.
Reposted by Brett Favaro
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
There is no national security logic that would impel the US to want to do regime change in Venezuela. It's simply not that important. I'm not even sure wag the dog is the right metaphor for what's happening here. Seems like an insane misallocation of US national security assets and attention.
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
BC politics take note
This also happened during Trump’s first term. That 2024 dip? That’s when Democrats went on the defensive, and let Trump and MAGA dictate the immigration narrative.
Why, it’s almost as if political leadership (good and bad) can actually drive public opinion, instead of always following it.
Why, it’s almost as if political leadership (good and bad) can actually drive public opinion, instead of always following it.
This is extremely important
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
BC politics take note
Reposted by Brett Favaro
This also happened during Trump’s first term. That 2024 dip? That’s when Democrats went on the defensive, and let Trump and MAGA dictate the immigration narrative.
Why, it’s almost as if political leadership (good and bad) can actually drive public opinion, instead of always following it.
Why, it’s almost as if political leadership (good and bad) can actually drive public opinion, instead of always following it.
December 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This also happened during Trump’s first term. That 2024 dip? That’s when Democrats went on the defensive, and let Trump and MAGA dictate the immigration narrative.
Why, it’s almost as if political leadership (good and bad) can actually drive public opinion, instead of always following it.
Why, it’s almost as if political leadership (good and bad) can actually drive public opinion, instead of always following it.
Reposted by Brett Favaro
You guys realize you can come up with scenarios like this to argue against *any* law, right? "You say it should be illegal to beat your wife but what if she's covered in fire ants?!"
August 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
You guys realize you can come up with scenarios like this to argue against *any* law, right? "You say it should be illegal to beat your wife but what if she's covered in fire ants?!"
December 13, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I think I'd have a lot of fun as auditor general. Imagine your whole job is to just call out BS
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) paid $18 million for a chatbot named Charlie, which the auditor general reported gave her team the wrong answer 66% of the time.
The chatbot's responses were found to be brief and lacking context, with only 2 out of 6 questions answered accurately.
The chatbot's responses were found to be brief and lacking context, with only 2 out of 6 questions answered accurately.
The CRA spent $18M on 'Charlie,' a new tax information chatbot that is wrong most of the time
The Canada Revenue Agency paid $18 million for a chatbot the auditor general says give her team the wrong answer 66 per cent of the time.
nationalpost.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I think I'd have a lot of fun as auditor general. Imagine your whole job is to just call out BS
The implication here is you can no longer trust the FDA more generally.
That means Canada's regulatory bodies need to make a clear departure. The era of hitching a wagon to US agencies is over.
That means Canada's regulatory bodies need to make a clear departure. The era of hitching a wagon to US agencies is over.
NEW: The FDA intends to put a “black box” warning on COVID-19 vaccines.
A boxed warning is the FDA’s most serious warning, used to warn of risks such as death or life-threatening reactions
—CNN
A boxed warning is the FDA’s most serious warning, used to warn of risks such as death or life-threatening reactions
—CNN
December 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The implication here is you can no longer trust the FDA more generally.
That means Canada's regulatory bodies need to make a clear departure. The era of hitching a wagon to US agencies is over.
That means Canada's regulatory bodies need to make a clear departure. The era of hitching a wagon to US agencies is over.
pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...
Interesting article about labour relations at the new SFU med school.
The intersection with Senate and Board is interesting too.
Interesting article about labour relations at the new SFU med school.
The intersection with Senate and Board is interesting too.
SFU Wants Only Non-Union Faculty at New Medical School
Simon Fraser contends that the med school is so new and different that its existing collective agreement with university faculty doesn't apply
pressprogress.ca
December 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
pressprogress.ca/sfu-medical-...
Interesting article about labour relations at the new SFU med school.
The intersection with Senate and Board is interesting too.
Interesting article about labour relations at the new SFU med school.
The intersection with Senate and Board is interesting too.
Oh. Oh no.
SCOOP: Academy Award-nominee Liam Neeson narrated a recent anti-vaccine documentary that glorifies RFK Jr.’s rise to power.
In the film, Neeson—a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador—calls the COVID-19 vaccines “dangerous experiments.”
www.importantcontext.news/p/liam-neeso...
In the film, Neeson—a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador—calls the COVID-19 vaccines “dangerous experiments.”
www.importantcontext.news/p/liam-neeso...
Liam Neeson Narrates Anti-Vax, Pro-RFK Documentary
The Taken actor can be heard calling mRNA COVID vaccines “dangerous experiments.”
www.importantcontext.news
December 12, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Oh. Oh no.
lol
BREAKING: Another Conservative has left the party.
Michael Ma, MP for the Ontario riding of Markham–Unionville, said he had joined the Liberals in a late Thursday announcement. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/12/11/n...
Michael Ma, MP for the Ontario riding of Markham–Unionville, said he had joined the Liberals in a late Thursday announcement. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/12/11/n...
Conservative MP Michael Ma crosses floor to Liberals
Ma is the second MP switch parties to join Mark Carney's government this fall.
www.nationalobserver.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:19 AM
lol
Reposted by Brett Favaro
This is great.
Cory Doctorow - Rescuing the Internet From “Enshittification” | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
This is great.
Academic conference organizers: time to relocate your US-based conference to Canada (or somewhere else)
If you want to use one of our campuses (all in BC: Richmond, Langley, Surrey-Newton, Cloverdale, or Surrey Central) message me and I can try to shepherd the request into the right hands
If you want to use one of our campuses (all in BC: Richmond, Langley, Surrey-Newton, Cloverdale, or Surrey Central) message me and I can try to shepherd the request into the right hands
NEW: Five years of social media history is only a fraction of what the US Government will shortly demand of overseas visitors.
The full requirements will end tourism in the United States.
Below is the full, mind-blowing list.
🚨THEY. WANT. YOUR. DNA.🚨
1/
The full requirements will end tourism in the United States.
Below is the full, mind-blowing list.
🚨THEY. WANT. YOUR. DNA.🚨
1/
December 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Academic conference organizers: time to relocate your US-based conference to Canada (or somewhere else)
If you want to use one of our campuses (all in BC: Richmond, Langley, Surrey-Newton, Cloverdale, or Surrey Central) message me and I can try to shepherd the request into the right hands
If you want to use one of our campuses (all in BC: Richmond, Langley, Surrey-Newton, Cloverdale, or Surrey Central) message me and I can try to shepherd the request into the right hands
It's kind of surprising to me that there wasn't much media coverage of the FN Energy Summit.
The Premier, a senior minister, and the CEO of BC Hydro all spoke there. The event discussed matters worth literal billions of dollars. Not to mention a big gathering of FN leaders.
The Premier, a senior minister, and the CEO of BC Hydro all spoke there. The event discussed matters worth literal billions of dollars. Not to mention a big gathering of FN leaders.
December 10, 2025 at 7:36 AM
It's kind of surprising to me that there wasn't much media coverage of the FN Energy Summit.
The Premier, a senior minister, and the CEO of BC Hydro all spoke there. The event discussed matters worth literal billions of dollars. Not to mention a big gathering of FN leaders.
The Premier, a senior minister, and the CEO of BC Hydro all spoke there. The event discussed matters worth literal billions of dollars. Not to mention a big gathering of FN leaders.
Observation: throughout the Summit, BC Hydro, Indigenous leaders, and, well, everybody was talking about net zero, 100% renewables, etc. It was very consistent.
Not Fortis. "Lower carbon" was their framing.
These things are not the same, and we should not accept that as a goal. "Lower" is too high
Not Fortis. "Lower carbon" was their framing.
These things are not the same, and we should not accept that as a goal. "Lower" is too high
December 9, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Observation: throughout the Summit, BC Hydro, Indigenous leaders, and, well, everybody was talking about net zero, 100% renewables, etc. It was very consistent.
Not Fortis. "Lower carbon" was their framing.
These things are not the same, and we should not accept that as a goal. "Lower" is too high
Not Fortis. "Lower carbon" was their framing.
These things are not the same, and we should not accept that as a goal. "Lower" is too high
@adriandix.bsky.social: Arguing that despite the benefits of clean energy - cheaper, better for environment and communities, etc - it is NOT inevitable.
The political argument has to be won too. (I'm paraphrasing)
The political argument has to be won too. (I'm paraphrasing)
December 9, 2025 at 9:34 PM
@adriandix.bsky.social: Arguing that despite the benefits of clean energy - cheaper, better for environment and communities, etc - it is NOT inevitable.
The political argument has to be won too. (I'm paraphrasing)
The political argument has to be won too. (I'm paraphrasing)
Day 2 of the First Nations Energy Summit.
Here, panelists Sharon Singh, Chris Henderson, Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, and Chad Norman Day are discussing the launch of a new Indigenous Equity Guide for clean energy
Here, panelists Sharon Singh, Chris Henderson, Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, and Chad Norman Day are discussing the launch of a new Indigenous Equity Guide for clean energy
December 9, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Day 2 of the First Nations Energy Summit.
Here, panelists Sharon Singh, Chris Henderson, Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, and Chad Norman Day are discussing the launch of a new Indigenous Equity Guide for clean energy
Here, panelists Sharon Singh, Chris Henderson, Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, and Chad Norman Day are discussing the launch of a new Indigenous Equity Guide for clean energy
Reposted by Brett Favaro
Q: Are you implying that these influencers take the vulnerability of young men to make money for themselves?
GILMORE: Absolutely. All of this is a grift... There is a lot of money that you can make in telling people that you have all the answers.
GILMORE: Absolutely. All of this is a grift... There is a lot of money that you can make in telling people that you have all the answers.
December 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Q: Are you implying that these influencers take the vulnerability of young men to make money for themselves?
GILMORE: Absolutely. All of this is a grift... There is a lot of money that you can make in telling people that you have all the answers.
GILMORE: Absolutely. All of this is a grift... There is a lot of money that you can make in telling people that you have all the answers.
Reposted by Brett Favaro
Rachel Gilmore: "Thanks to a confluence of factors—including the advent of social media, incompetent moderation from tech giants and manosphere influencers creation of soft entry points for a more radical ideology—anti-feminist ideology is experiencing a resurgence."
December 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Rachel Gilmore: "Thanks to a confluence of factors—including the advent of social media, incompetent moderation from tech giants and manosphere influencers creation of soft entry points for a more radical ideology—anti-feminist ideology is experiencing a resurgence."
Reposted by Brett Favaro
For fans of Tufte, this is the best-designed book I've seen that shows off science
pubs.usgs.gov/publication/...
pubs.usgs.gov/publication/...
USGS Publications Warehouse
A puzzling tsunami entered Japanese history in January 1700. Samurai, merchants, and villagers wrote of minor flooding and damage. Some noted that no parent earthquake had been felt; they were wonderi...
pubs.usgs.gov
December 9, 2025 at 12:02 AM
For fans of Tufte, this is the best-designed book I've seen that shows off science
pubs.usgs.gov/publication/...
pubs.usgs.gov/publication/...