Ed Douglas
@calmandfearless.bsky.social
Writer. Loves the spikier bits of the planet. Bath addict. Contributor to Guardian Country Diary. Represented by David Godwin Associates.
Pinned
Ed Douglas
@calmandfearless.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Handy starter pack for outdoor writers. go.bsky.app/6JQo2Ro
Reposted by Ed Douglas
Just say no to Peat. Bloody ridiculous that we are using it for our mostly imported ornamental plants (amongst other things)
Sign the petition asking the Government to finally end peat compost sales with legislation in 2026 - no more delays. It’s been a long and tiring road to get peat compost banned and we need your signatures and shares now more than ever to get it done. actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
Sign the petition to end peat sales!
No more delays: Let's get peat out of gardens once and for all. The time for uncertainty has ended.
actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Just say no to Peat. Bloody ridiculous that we are using it for our mostly imported ornamental plants (amongst other things)
A reminder in the Conversation that the Prescott memo would have been shredded as a piece of work by any half-decent editor, BBC or otherwise. Reminds me of Lebowski: 'Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.' theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
BBC bias? The Prescott memo falls well short of the standards of impartiality it demands
The Prescott memo contained no research questions or objectives, method, sample, time frame or, crucially, analytical framework for examining output.
theconversation.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A reminder in the Conversation that the Prescott memo would have been shredded as a piece of work by any half-decent editor, BBC or otherwise. Reminds me of Lebowski: 'Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.' theconversation.com/bbc-bias-the...
I think I must have been at the same Dick Gaughan gig at the Greystones in Sheffield as Richard Hawley. Hard to conceive that a musician of his stature has been treated this way. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music
A skilled interpreter and social justice champion, Gaughan is a hero to the likes of Richard Hawley and Billy Bragg. Yet much of his work has been stuck in limbo for decades – until a determined fan s...
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I think I must have been at the same Dick Gaughan gig at the Greystones in Sheffield as Richard Hawley. Hard to conceive that a musician of his stature has been treated this way. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Wow, this is sad. Such a talent. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Tributes paid to ‘fearless and funny’ Observer journalist Rachel Cooke who has died aged 56
Cooke, who worked for the Observer for 25 years and was described as its ‘backbone’, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Wow, this is sad. Such a talent. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
A thorough review of my book Himalaya in the Kathmandu Post. Great that after five years it’s still getting attention. But you really can see Everest from Kathmandu, with the right conditions. kathmandupost.com/art-culture/...
A complex, ambitious portrait of the Himalayas
In ‘Himalaya: A Human History’, Ed Douglas blends geology, religion and politics to show how the mountains shaped (and were shaped by) people.
kathmandupost.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:54 AM
A thorough review of my book Himalaya in the Kathmandu Post. Great that after five years it’s still getting attention. But you really can see Everest from Kathmandu, with the right conditions. kathmandupost.com/art-culture/...
Terracotta Army vibes here. China has long wanted a compliant population and has hit on the ruse of cutting out the middlemen (and women).
Chinese company UBTECH Robotics has assembled an army of humanoid robots for factory work.
They don’t need recharging - the humanoids are capable of changing their own batteries, making their presence in production almost independent of humans.
They don’t need recharging - the humanoids are capable of changing their own batteries, making their presence in production almost independent of humans.
November 14, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Terracotta Army vibes here. China has long wanted a compliant population and has hit on the ruse of cutting out the middlemen (and women).
A streak of colour on a grey day. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Country diary: A streak of lemon on a drab moorland day | Ed Douglas
Blacka Moor, South Yorkshire: Even among the yellowing birch leaves the goldcrest stood out, a slight creature with a mighty presence
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A streak of colour on a grey day. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
I’m enjoying the new Observer and this piece from Andrew Anthony on Felix Baumgartner is outstanding. Articulates so much of what I feel about Red Bull, social media and adventure. observer.co.uk/style/featur...
Felix Baumgartner: the highs and lows of a life of extremes | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I’m enjoying the new Observer and this piece from Andrew Anthony on Felix Baumgartner is outstanding. Articulates so much of what I feel about Red Bull, social media and adventure. observer.co.uk/style/featur...
Reposted by Ed Douglas
Pleased to be part of this hugely significant legal challenge. The Boris Johnson Govt first suppressed the Russia report & then refused to act on it. As evidence mounts of Putin’s hybrid warfare, it’s vital that we can be confident in the robustness of our democratic systems
UK Russian interference case heads to 'Europe's Supreme Court'
THREE former MPs have lodged a case with “Europe’s Supreme Court”, accusing the UK Government of failing in its duty to protect elections from…
www.thenational.scot
October 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Pleased to be part of this hugely significant legal challenge. The Boris Johnson Govt first suppressed the Russia report & then refused to act on it. As evidence mounts of Putin’s hybrid warfare, it’s vital that we can be confident in the robustness of our democratic systems
Labour has disappointed in so many ways but it’s failure to understand China is especially annoying. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Xi Jinping is preparing to go toe to toe with Donald Trump – and there will only be one winner | Simon Tisdall
Beijing has realised that reckless America First policies are alienating old and new friends alike, creating a vacuum it can fill, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
October 19, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Labour has disappointed in so many ways but it’s failure to understand China is especially annoying. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ed Douglas
Reposted by Ed Douglas
And if you’re wondering who Labour is listening to? “Reeves boasted she hatched plan to rip down our nature protections over a “smoked salmon & scrambled eggs breakfast” with corporate lobbyists”. While Starmer’s resolve to kick down planning rules are result of his “conversations with leading CEOs”
Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot
The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:09 AM
And if you’re wondering who Labour is listening to? “Reeves boasted she hatched plan to rip down our nature protections over a “smoked salmon & scrambled eggs breakfast” with corporate lobbyists”. While Starmer’s resolve to kick down planning rules are result of his “conversations with leading CEOs”
Reposted by Ed Douglas
A story in three parts
October 16, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A story in three parts
Reposted by Ed Douglas
Goldfinches, whinchats and life-giving cattle on the moor in today's @theguardian.com country diary by @calmandfearless.bsky.social.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
Country diary: An easy-going bunch doing hard work on the moor | Ed Douglas
Big Moor, Derbyshire: The change from sheep to cattle grazing here was intended to restore wildlife – and it’s working
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Goldfinches, whinchats and life-giving cattle on the moor in today's @theguardian.com country diary by @calmandfearless.bsky.social.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
Reposted by Ed Douglas
Excellent to see Labour MPs call on the government to leave Elon Musk's hate-filled X. Doing so would spark an exodus of journalists & public bodies.
Thank you @bengoldsborough.bsky.social @sarahowen.org.uk @alexballingermp.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Thank you @bengoldsborough.bsky.social @sarahowen.org.uk @alexballingermp.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Senior Labour MPs Demand Crackdown on X After Elon Musk’s ‘Dangerous’ Rally Comments
Senior Labour MPs are urging the government to take urgent action against hate speech, misinformation and violent rhetoric on Elon Musk’s X platfor...
www.politicshome.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Excellent to see Labour MPs call on the government to leave Elon Musk's hate-filled X. Doing so would spark an exodus of journalists & public bodies.
Thank you @bengoldsborough.bsky.social @sarahowen.org.uk @alexballingermp.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Thank you @bengoldsborough.bsky.social @sarahowen.org.uk @alexballingermp.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ed Douglas
What do you do with a democracy that refuses to serve the demos – the people?
For 75 years now, following Nepal’s short-lived experiment with democracy in 1950, each generation has had to answer this question anew.
My view on where Nepal stands now:
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
For 75 years now, following Nepal’s short-lived experiment with democracy in 1950, each generation has had to answer this question anew.
My view on where Nepal stands now:
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
Despite decades of setbacks, Nepal still dreams of democracy
A new generation of Nepalis is yet to figure out what no previous generation has: how to make democracy serve the people
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:01 AM
What do you do with a democracy that refuses to serve the demos – the people?
For 75 years now, following Nepal’s short-lived experiment with democracy in 1950, each generation has had to answer this question anew.
My view on where Nepal stands now:
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
For 75 years now, following Nepal’s short-lived experiment with democracy in 1950, each generation has had to answer this question anew.
My view on where Nepal stands now:
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
Obvs, leave X, because it's mad. But also, is one of the differences between the hard left and right the amount of drugs being hoovered up? Tiny Tommy and his coke rages, Elon and his k-holes, Nige and his anxious fag breaks.
🔴 NEW - Why you should leave X
Here’s the sad truth: Twitter no longer exists. X is something else entirely. It’s a megaphone for extremism, controlled by a deranged oligarch.
📝 latest Substack 👇🏻
Here’s the sad truth: Twitter no longer exists. X is something else entirely. It’s a megaphone for extremism, controlled by a deranged oligarch.
📝 latest Substack 👇🏻
Why you should leave X
A rallying cry to progressives everywhere...
writesbright.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Obvs, leave X, because it's mad. But also, is one of the differences between the hard left and right the amount of drugs being hoovered up? Tiny Tommy and his coke rages, Elon and his k-holes, Nige and his anxious fag breaks.
From producing cars that catch fire, to trying to burn down democracies.
When you're too busy inciting civil unrest in foreign democracies to turn things around at the office.
Tesla’s stock is tumbling after Elon Musk failure to shift the narrative | CNN Business
Elon Musk’s big promises apparently no longer seem to be enough for many Tesla investors.
edition.cnn.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:28 AM
From producing cars that catch fire, to trying to burn down democracies.
Reposted by Ed Douglas
UPEND THE ESTABLISHMENT, by voting for a party composed entirely of rejects from the oldest party in the country that was in power for 14 years. 😂
Reform UK increasingly look like the Tories just ran off stage, then ran back on wearing a comedy glasses-nose-moustache disguise.
Reform UK increasingly look like the Tories just ran off stage, then ran back on wearing a comedy glasses-nose-moustache disguise.
BREAKING: Tory MP Danny Kruger just defected to Reform. Big surprise, not. ~AA
September 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
UPEND THE ESTABLISHMENT, by voting for a party composed entirely of rejects from the oldest party in the country that was in power for 14 years. 😂
Reform UK increasingly look like the Tories just ran off stage, then ran back on wearing a comedy glasses-nose-moustache disguise.
Reform UK increasingly look like the Tories just ran off stage, then ran back on wearing a comedy glasses-nose-moustache disguise.
Mind you, Ant Middleton was always a twat.
September 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Mind you, Ant Middleton was always a twat.
Nepal has its first female prime minister, in her 70s, but a former chief justice who will be a big advance on the men in their 70s who were throttling the country. nepalitimes.com/news/madam-p...
Madam Prime Minister of Nepal
nepalitimes.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Nepal has its first female prime minister, in her 70s, but a former chief justice who will be a big advance on the men in their 70s who were throttling the country. nepalitimes.com/news/madam-p...
Reposted by Ed Douglas
Fewer than half the calories grown on farms now reach our plates
The world produced enough calories in 2020 to feed 15 billion people – but only 50 per cent of those calories ended up reaching people's plates.
www.newscientist.com/article/2493...
The world produced enough calories in 2020 to feed 15 billion people – but only 50 per cent of those calories ended up reaching people's plates.
www.newscientist.com/article/2493...
Fewer than half the calories grown on farms now reach our plates
In 2020, the world produced more than enough calories to feed the global population, but only half of those calories reached people’s plates due to rising meat and biofuel production
www.newscientist.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Fewer than half the calories grown on farms now reach our plates
The world produced enough calories in 2020 to feed 15 billion people – but only 50 per cent of those calories ended up reaching people's plates.
www.newscientist.com/article/2493...
The world produced enough calories in 2020 to feed 15 billion people – but only 50 per cent of those calories ended up reaching people's plates.
www.newscientist.com/article/2493...
Such a complicated issue but I’m with Ruth Tingay here. If you put 60 million pheasants and partridges into the countryside, foxes will do well. And curlews won’t. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘A last resort’: is culling foxes the only way to save Britain’s vanishing curlews?
Keeping predator numbers down may be last hope for the ground-nesting birds – but critics say real problem is farming practices
www.theguardian.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Such a complicated issue but I’m with Ruth Tingay here. If you put 60 million pheasants and partridges into the countryside, foxes will do well. And curlews won’t. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Completed in 1908, it was built by Chandra Shumsher Rana, then the prime minister, who immediately sold it to the Nepali state. Chandra, a hardliner, replaced a reformist regime in a coup, ushered into power by his mate Lord Curzon...
NEW: Tonight, this is all that remains of Nepal's seat of government in Kathmandu.
Singha Durbar was the largest palace in Asia; home to the Prime Minister & government offices.
A 48-hour revolution, led by Gen Z protestors, has toppled the government & left large parts of the capital in flames.
Singha Durbar was the largest palace in Asia; home to the Prime Minister & government offices.
A 48-hour revolution, led by Gen Z protestors, has toppled the government & left large parts of the capital in flames.
September 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Completed in 1908, it was built by Chandra Shumsher Rana, then the prime minister, who immediately sold it to the Nepali state. Chandra, a hardliner, replaced a reformist regime in a coup, ushered into power by his mate Lord Curzon...