Lisa Cumming
@lisacumin.bsky.social
Works in & around conflict grappling. (Local peacebuilding • Nonviolence • Peace practice & thinking.)
Worries in the valley, dreams on the moors. Personal account.
Worries in the valley, dreams on the moors. Personal account.
Pinned
Lisa Cumming
@lisacumin.bsky.social
· Nov 18
I've kindly been added to some lists with much more interesting folk than me. So if trying to work out whether I'm worth a follow...my day job is accompanying (supporting) people working in local
peacebuilding/conflict work in Britain and...
peacebuilding/conflict work in Britain and...
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
With every outright racist things he says I think back to his former students and colleagues at a pretty diverse university who had to work with someone who clearly did not respect or value them.
Reflections on the budget from the head of Students4Reform
November 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
With every outright racist things he says I think back to his former students and colleagues at a pretty diverse university who had to work with someone who clearly did not respect or value them.
"Thirty asylum seekers currently in detention in the UK have gone on hunger strike in protest against their imminent removal to France under the Home Office’s controversial “one in, one out” scheme."
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum seekers in UK go on hunger strike over ‘one in, one out’ removals
Many of the 30 people taking part in the protest are scheduled to be forcibly returned to France on Thursday
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
"Thirty asylum seekers currently in detention in the UK have gone on hunger strike in protest against their imminent removal to France under the Home Office’s controversial “one in, one out” scheme."
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Don’t believe Nigel Farage’s denials. He targeted me for being Jewish – and it hurt | Peter Ettedgui
Don’t believe Nigel Farage’s denials. He targeted me for being Jewish – and it hurt | Peter Ettedgui
Now that my former classmate has finally spoken about the allegations of his behaviour at school, I feel compelled to address his points directly, says Peter Ettedgui, a film director and producer
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Don’t believe Nigel Farage’s denials. He targeted me for being Jewish – and it hurt | Peter Ettedgui
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Hot of the press - new report from @futuregovforum.bsky.social on how govt can exit asylum hotels within 1yr while:
💰 saving up to £5bn
📝 cutting the asylum backlog
🫶 investing in communities
🏡 boosting temporary accommodation
Might sound too good to be true, but it's not. Read our 3-step plan 👇
💰 saving up to £5bn
📝 cutting the asylum backlog
🫶 investing in communities
🏡 boosting temporary accommodation
Might sound too good to be true, but it's not. Read our 3-step plan 👇
New @futuregovforum.bsky.social paper sets out 3-point plan to end use of asylum hotels by 2026 and deliver savings of btwn £3-5 billion for the Exchequer.
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/res...
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/res...
Restoring Order and Reducing Costs: How to close asylum hotels and save up to £5 billion - Future Governance Forum
Published by The Future Governance Forum with contributions from Nesta, Labour Together, the Refugee Council and housing expert Kate Wareing, Restoring Order and Reducing Costs puts forward a three st...
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Hot of the press - new report from @futuregovforum.bsky.social on how govt can exit asylum hotels within 1yr while:
💰 saving up to £5bn
📝 cutting the asylum backlog
🫶 investing in communities
🏡 boosting temporary accommodation
Might sound too good to be true, but it's not. Read our 3-step plan 👇
💰 saving up to £5bn
📝 cutting the asylum backlog
🫶 investing in communities
🏡 boosting temporary accommodation
Might sound too good to be true, but it's not. Read our 3-step plan 👇
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... - my new article, if of interest please share.
I endured an English public school. But that’s not the only reason I’m unsurprised about the Farage allegations |
Let’s put aside the schooldays accusations and look, instead, at the Reform leader’s path since then. I think a pretty clear picture of the man emerges, says author and podcaster Musa Okwonga
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... - my new article, if of interest please share.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
St. Petersburg street musicians arrested for singing anti-war songs flee Russia after release from jail
Diana Loginova, the lead singer of the band Stoptime, as well as guitarist Alexander Orlov, have left Russia after being freed overnight on Nov. 23.
Diana Loginova, the lead singer of the band Stoptime, as well as guitarist Alexander Orlov, have left Russia after being freed overnight on Nov. 23.
St. Petersburg street musicians arrested for singing anti-war songs flee Russia after release from jail
Diana Loginova, the lead singer of the band Stoptime, has left Russia after being freed overnight on Nov. 23, a source told The Insider. Stoptime guitarist Aleksandr Orlov is also safe, his attorney, ...
theins.press
November 24, 2025 at 8:38 PM
St. Petersburg street musicians arrested for singing anti-war songs flee Russia after release from jail
Diana Loginova, the lead singer of the band Stoptime, as well as guitarist Alexander Orlov, have left Russia after being freed overnight on Nov. 23.
Diana Loginova, the lead singer of the band Stoptime, as well as guitarist Alexander Orlov, have left Russia after being freed overnight on Nov. 23.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
1/2. “The COP of Truth cannot ignore science. 75% of carbon emissions come from fossil fuels. Today we are not even allowed to discuss pathways for a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.” Colombia at the close of #COP30.
November 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
1/2. “The COP of Truth cannot ignore science. 75% of carbon emissions come from fossil fuels. Today we are not even allowed to discuss pathways for a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.” Colombia at the close of #COP30.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Trump’s back to the rhetoric of the Oval Office meeting in February, claiming Ukraine’s leadership “has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts.”
November 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Trump’s back to the rhetoric of the Oval Office meeting in February, claiming Ukraine’s leadership “has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts.”
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
New from us:
Europeans have submitted a modified version of the United States' peace plan for Ukraine that pushes back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and territorial concessions, according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday.
Story below, we'll also publish full text.
Europeans have submitted a modified version of the United States' peace plan for Ukraine that pushes back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and territorial concessions, according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday.
Story below, we'll also publish full text.
www.reuters.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
New from us:
Europeans have submitted a modified version of the United States' peace plan for Ukraine that pushes back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and territorial concessions, according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday.
Story below, we'll also publish full text.
Europeans have submitted a modified version of the United States' peace plan for Ukraine that pushes back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and territorial concessions, according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday.
Story below, we'll also publish full text.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
COP30 TEXT ANALYSIS: One way to read dense COP text is to focus on the verbs. These are helpfully italicised – and for good reason.
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
COP30 TEXT ANALYSIS: One way to read dense COP text is to focus on the verbs. These are helpfully italicised – and for good reason.
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
So, to recap, Ukraine and Europe understand that America has effectively endorsed a 28-point plan to force Kyiv to capitulate, set a Thursday deadline to accept it, and threatened to cut off all aid.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 PM
So, to recap, Ukraine and Europe understand that America has effectively endorsed a 28-point plan to force Kyiv to capitulate, set a Thursday deadline to accept it, and threatened to cut off all aid.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
This is pretty striking and makes me wonder exactly what Labour have been up to in making policy seemingly in response to / fear of the former rather than the middle group.
Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts?
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 22, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is pretty striking and makes me wonder exactly what Labour have been up to in making policy seemingly in response to / fear of the former rather than the middle group.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
And meanwhile, some of us were terrified to leave our homes, reliant on housemates who weren't immunocompromised, neighbours, friends to shop for our food, & we knew they didn't care, & that made it even worse www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
And meanwhile, some of us were terrified to leave our homes, reliant on housemates who weren't immunocompromised, neighbours, friends to shop for our food, & we knew they didn't care, & that made it even worse www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Perhaps the Home Secretary, law graduate & barrister-at-law, Shabana Mahmood should read & understand the relevant section of the Refugee Convention to which the UK has been a signatory since long before she was born before putting out deliberately misleading & rabble rousing tweets like this.
November 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Perhaps the Home Secretary, law graduate & barrister-at-law, Shabana Mahmood should read & understand the relevant section of the Refugee Convention to which the UK has been a signatory since long before she was born before putting out deliberately misleading & rabble rousing tweets like this.
"The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
"The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Truly appalling albeit unsurprising coming for a government which always consciously chooses to mainstream far-right politics
Racist violence has been fuelled by top-down discourses which have normalised and legitimised far-right moral panics for years. It is not predominantly a bottom-up issue
Racist violence has been fuelled by top-down discourses which have normalised and legitimised far-right moral panics for years. It is not predominantly a bottom-up issue
The Home Secretary explaining that the rise in racist violence is, actually, the natural response to higher levels of immigration is a state of affairs that can't exist without the government having largely decided that racist violence is, if not legitimate, at least understandable.
November 22, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Truly appalling albeit unsurprising coming for a government which always consciously chooses to mainstream far-right politics
Racist violence has been fuelled by top-down discourses which have normalised and legitimised far-right moral panics for years. It is not predominantly a bottom-up issue
Racist violence has been fuelled by top-down discourses which have normalised and legitimised far-right moral panics for years. It is not predominantly a bottom-up issue
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
A fascinating scene to understand how personalistic regimes work. First, there is an in-or-out decision by the leader. This is always in flux, deliberately uncertain and essential to extract rents and exert power. When you are on the inside the substance of what you say and do becomes secondary.
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
November 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
A fascinating scene to understand how personalistic regimes work. First, there is an in-or-out decision by the leader. This is always in flux, deliberately uncertain and essential to extract rents and exert power. When you are on the inside the substance of what you say and do becomes secondary.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
75 years young 😍
Happy Birthday Tina Weymouth, born on this day in 1950, Coronado, California
One of the greatest bass line ever:
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer - Old Grey Whistle Test
#punk #punkrock #postpunk #newwave #tinaweymouth #talkingheads #punkrockhistory #otd
Happy Birthday Tina Weymouth, born on this day in 1950, Coronado, California
One of the greatest bass line ever:
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer - Old Grey Whistle Test
#punk #punkrock #postpunk #newwave #tinaweymouth #talkingheads #punkrockhistory #otd
November 22, 2025 at 7:47 AM
75 years young 😍
Happy Birthday Tina Weymouth, born on this day in 1950, Coronado, California
One of the greatest bass line ever:
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer - Old Grey Whistle Test
#punk #punkrock #postpunk #newwave #tinaweymouth #talkingheads #punkrockhistory #otd
Happy Birthday Tina Weymouth, born on this day in 1950, Coronado, California
One of the greatest bass line ever:
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer - Old Grey Whistle Test
#punk #punkrock #postpunk #newwave #tinaweymouth #talkingheads #punkrockhistory #otd
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
November 21, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
1/ 🚨It’s down to the wire at #COP30. The latest draft text is shamefully weak. No mention of fossil fuels. No real finance commitments. Just vague adaptation promises.
“This is outrageous.” –
@bronwentucker.bsky.social bit.ly/3K2Ot36
🧵👇
“This is outrageous.” –
@bronwentucker.bsky.social bit.ly/3K2Ot36
🧵👇
COP30 Presidency presents new draft text that fails on equity - Oil Change International
This is outrageous. The Presidency has presented a shamefully weak text that fails to mention fossil fuels, fails to deliver accountability towards rich countries’ finance obligations, and only makes ...
bit.ly
November 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
1/ 🚨It’s down to the wire at #COP30. The latest draft text is shamefully weak. No mention of fossil fuels. No real finance commitments. Just vague adaptation promises.
“This is outrageous.” –
@bronwentucker.bsky.social bit.ly/3K2Ot36
🧵👇
“This is outrageous.” –
@bronwentucker.bsky.social bit.ly/3K2Ot36
🧵👇
A sunset winter walk to shed the skin of this week. Frosty frozen wetlands, blush pink sky, a heron's low fly-by screech, a friendly, furry hello from a border collie. And a mug of hot chai from a canal boat called Marilyn Moonbeam.
November 21, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A sunset winter walk to shed the skin of this week. Frosty frozen wetlands, blush pink sky, a heron's low fly-by screech, a friendly, furry hello from a border collie. And a mug of hot chai from a canal boat called Marilyn Moonbeam.
Reposted by Lisa Cumming
Here’s how journalists, politicians, and analysts have reacted to the full version of Trump’s latest “peace plan” for Russia and Ukraine.
meduza.io/en/feature/2...
meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘Legions of devils in the details’: The world reacts to Trump’s full Russia–Ukraine ‘peace plan’ — Meduza
Over the past few days, media outlets around the world have been focused on a new plan to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine. First, it emerged that the plan was being prepared in secret…
meduza.io
November 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Here’s how journalists, politicians, and analysts have reacted to the full version of Trump’s latest “peace plan” for Russia and Ukraine.
meduza.io/en/feature/2...
meduza.io/en/feature/2...