Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 1h

Nobel Peace Prizes have often been awarded to people who fight autocracy. Maria Corina Machado fits right into that tradition

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Why María Machado Deserved the Nobel Peace Prize

The Venezuelan opposition leader shows why participation matters.

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

University of Oxford @ox.ac.uk · 2h

Researchers from @smithschool.ox.ac.uk and the University of Pennsylvania have carried out the most comprehensive review of carbon offsetting yet - finding the practice largely ineffective and plagued by ‘intractable’ problems.

Read more ⬇️ #OxfordClimate

Carbon offsets have failed for 25 years, and most should be phased out - research

Academics at the University of Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania have conducted the most comprehensive review of evidence on the effectiveness on carbon offsetting to date and concluded the pr...

www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 3h

From Canada - but resonates in Australia
“Polite racism persists because it is comfortable for those who benefit from it, and it allows institutions to maintain appearances while avoiding change.

Action begins with self-reflection — for everyone.”

Sara F.L. Kirk @sflkirk.bsky.social · 3h

"The opposite of polite racism isn’t impolite confrontation — it’s courageous honesty. It’s choosing truth over comfort, unity over silence". Polite racism’ is the subtle form of racial exclusion — here’s how to move beyond it via @ca.theconversation.com #Racism theconversation.com/polite-racis...

‘Polite racism’ is the subtle form of racial exclusion — here’s how to move beyond it

A study into the experiences of first- and second-generation Haitian and Jamaican Canadians yields insight into five ways to dismantle racism that masquerades as civility.

theconversation.com

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Miki Perkins @mikiperkins.bsky.social · 4h

This is desperately sad. Professor John Woinarski breaks the news for @aunz.theconversation.com that Australia's next animal - the tiny Christmas Island Shrew - has officially been declared extinct.

theconversation.com/and-then-the...

And then there were none: Australia’s only shrew declared extinct

Australia’s only known shrew has been declared extinct. Its loss emphasises the need for national protection of Australia’s rare and unique wildlife.

theconversation.com

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 4h

“The committee says “democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent”.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize

Leader of country’s opposition receives award after scrutiny surrounding committee and comments by Donald Trump

www.theguardian.com

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 7h

The dinosaur is still in the running! Come on Queensland vote for a state bird like no other #birdoftheyear #teamcassowary

Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 2d

Love them all but in times like this I feel we need more exuberant dinosaurs www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#birdoftheyear #teamcassowary

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 8h

It’s astonishing any parliamentary group can be sponsored like this. Never mind the sponsorship seems entirely unnecessary - I mean what was it paying for?

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Dr Monique Ryan @mon4kooyong.bsky.social · 12h

The gambling industry is predatory and insidious.

I quit the Parliamentary Sports Club a few weeks ago, when I discovered it had registered as a lobbyist group and was sponsored by the gambling peak body.

The industry will do anything to wield influence on pollies, and hates being called out.

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Melissa Sweet @melissasweetdr.bsky.social · 8h

Why we must stay vigilant on Australia’s gun laws
www.croakey.org/why-we-must-...
By Stephen Bendle, Senior Advocacy Advisor at the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and Convenor, Australian Gun Safety Alliance.
#AusPol
#PublicHealth

Why we must stay vigilant on Australia’s gun laws

Introduction by Croakey: More than 100 firearms have been seized in a raid targeted at so-called sovereign citizens across Western

www.croakey.org

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Alex Holcombe @alexh.bsky.social · 15h

We started @metaror.bsky.social MetaROR.org in part because of the absence of a journal that publishes metascience. But rather than a traditional journal, as metascientists we wanted to explore the next frontier - Publish, Review, Curate.

Home - MetaROR

MetaResearch Open Review MetaResearch Open Review MetaResearch Open Review A new platform designed to transform how we review and share metaresearch A new platform designed to transform

MetaROR.org

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 11h

An utterly bizarre assessment of how soft influence works.
“I have always been of the view that the larger the organisation involved, the less likely they are to ‘use’ the club in an inappropriate way.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Former Wallabies star David Pocock booted from parliamentary sports club

Exclusive: Senator accused of bringing social club into disrepute after raising concerns about its association with betting lobby

www.theguardian.com

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Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 3d

"The single most important behaviour, design or regulation for creating streets conducive to walking and cycling, was physical separation between the modes"

We've got a new study out, learning from a broad mixture of street users, planners and designers

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Highlights
For marginalised street users mode separation is the key to human-scale movement.
Streets conducive to walking and cycling have functional, safe and accessible design.
Professionals must approach street design, regulation and user behaviour holistically.
Combinations of influencing factors persuade people to either use or avoid a street.
There are no easy fixes to the public realm that will work for all non-drivers.

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 2d

Six former U.S. Surgeons General have issued a joint warning saying RFK Jr.’s actions “are endangering the health of the nation.”

www.thedailybeast.com/surgeons-gen...

Surgeons General Unite to Torch RFK Jr. in Unprecedented Warning

Six agree Kennedy is a “profound, immediate” danger to the health of Americans.

www.thedailybeast.com

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 2d

Love them all but in times like this I feel we need more exuberant dinosaurs www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#birdoftheyear #teamcassowary

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 8d

Welcome to Opt Out October, our collection of tips to slowly break free from online surveillance and throw sand in the gears of overreaching large tech companies. Today’s tip is about establishing good online security fundamentals. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...

Opt Out October: Daily Tips to Protect Your Privacy and Security

Trying to take control of your online privacy can feel like a full-time job. But if you break it up into small tasks and take on one project at a time it makes the process of protecting your privacy

www.eff.org

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 4d

Calling young people aged 14 and under! The Guardian is looking for your 250-word pieces of writing about nature and landscape for the Young Country Diary. Entry here (and published diaries will be paid): www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Nature boys and girls – here’s your chance to get published in the Guardian

Our wildlife series Young Country Diary is looking for articles written by children, about their autumn encounters with nature

www.theguardian.com

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 4d

💚 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

I used to think birds made life worth living only for those of us obsessed with them. Now I know the truth

It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I realised birds could have a powerful significance even for people who weren’t bird-nerds like me

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Dave Earley @earleyedition.bsky.social · 5d

EXCLUSIVE: In correspondence seen by the Guardian, Greta Thunberg has told Swedish officials she is being subjected to harsh treatment in Israeli custody after her removal from the Gaza aid flotilla, including insufficient food and water.

Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags

Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Kerry Jaggers 🇦🇺 @kerryjaggers.bsky.social · 5d

And daylight saving has started in Australia 😅. Confusion reigns.
(Image via SBS News.)

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Margaret Morgan 🇳🇱🇦🇺🇪🇺 @margaretmorgan.bsky.social · 8d

I love Australian magpies. 😁

ABC News Bot (unofficial) @abcnewsbot.bsky.social · 8d

A Canberra man has captured footage of the dramatic moment a magpie plucked his earphone from his ear.

Swooping magpie plucks earphone from cyclist's ear

A Canberra man has captured footage of the dramatic moment a magpie plucked his earphone from his ear.

www.abc.net.au

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 10d

It’s a fantastic story, but for sure the story underneath mattered more. A really shameful time in some parts of British journalism. All credit to the Guardian for pursuing it.

Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 15d

If you enjoyed #TheHack tonight here’s why the story mattered….

Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 20d

Robert Redford, me, Toby Jones - and a reporter who found corruption in his own backyard. Thoughts on the coming ITV drama, The Hack www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...

Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 15d

If you enjoyed #TheHack tonight here’s why the story mattered….

Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · 20d

Robert Redford, me, Toby Jones - and a reporter who found corruption in his own backyard. Thoughts on the coming ITV drama, The Hack www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...

Me, Toby Jones and a timely reminder of why we need a free press

A new drama on the phone-hacking scandal shows us journalism at its worst, but also how reporting can make real change

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 10d

😳
”The commission revealed at the inquiry it had not consulted with the creative industry or modelled either the impact of that recommendation or the benefit the industry injects into the economy.”
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Productivity commission under fire for failing to consult Australian artists about copyright issues around AI recommendations

Productivity Commission under fire for failing to consult Australian artists about copyright issues around AI recommendations

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Ginny Barbour

Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 11d

There is a difference between righteous anger, directed at injustice, and hateful anger, directed at those who are different. Authoritarian regimes deliberately conflate the two to silence criticism and create false equivalence. It's important we don't let those in power succeed in this endeavor.

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Ginny Barbour @ginnybarbour.bsky.social · 12d

I remember following this story at time but it’s even more gobsmacking than it appeared then theconversation.com/friday-essay...

Friday essay: new revelations of the Murdoch empire’s underbelly – from The Hack’s real-life journalist

The Hack’s real-life counterpart Nick Davies has reissued his book on the phone-hacking scandal. Its new afterword casts more light on the Murdoch company’s behaviour.

theconversation.com

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