Ruth Aylett
@ruthaylett.bsky.social
900 followers 310 following 250 posts
(she/her) Author, poet, socialist, feminist, Heriot-Watt emeritus professor with research in AI, social robotics/agents, affective computing All views personal; likes/shares are not support
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ruthaylett.bsky.social
Anyone keen to see beyond robot hype and understand how much of it is pure fiction, see our popular science book Living with Robots, what every anxious human needs to know. tinyurl.com/5y3552px
Living with Robots : What Every Anxious Human Needs to Know
Living with Robots : What Every Anxious Human Needs to Know (Paperback / softback) (9780262546041)
tinyurl.com
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
jessothomson.co.uk
It cannot be made clearer.

If you continue to support the Harry Potter franchise in any way, you are directly funding the removal of trans people's human rights in the UK.
JK Rowling pledges to keep up fight against SNP trans policies

Author vows to bankroll campaigners after Scottish government fails to pay group's legal fees in Supreme Court equality case
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
maris.bsky.social
This is so damn scary. The book claimed that Jeffrey Epstein was the one who introduced Donald and Melania. Now the CEO of Harper UK is out.
jayrayner1.bsky.social
In other news Charlie Redmayne, the long serving CEO of HC in the UK, resigned yesterday.
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
georgetakei.bsky.social
Congress continues to fail to check Trump’s authoritarian power.
Screenshot of a tweet from Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) reporting that the Senate rejected a measure to stop Trump from unilaterally striking Venezuelan boats, with a vote of 48–51. The tweet adds that Fetterman voted no, and Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski voted yes. The attached photo shows senators on the Senate floor during the roll call vote, with a caption bar reading: ‘Motion to Discharge S.J. Res. 83…’
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
keithwdickinson.bsky.social
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
Morning update
<article data-history-node-id="429802" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/morning-update-425" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/morning-update-425" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Morning update</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Good morning, Middle East Eye readers,</p> <p>Here are the latest updates from Israel's war on Gaza:</p> <ul> <li> <p>The organisers of a new&nbsp;Gaza-bound aid flotilla said the Israeli army intercepted at least three of its boats on Wednesday.</p> </li> <li> <p>Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday said he strongly condemned the Israeli military after it intercepted several boats carrying aid to&nbsp;Gaza, and demanded that Malaysian activists taking part in the flotilla mission be released.</p> </li> <li> <p>Qatar's prime minister and senior delegates from the United States and Turkey will join Hamas and Israeli negotiators on Wednesday for a third day of talks aimed at ending Israel's war on&nbsp;Gaza.</p> </li> <li> <p>US President Donald Trump voiced optimism that there was a "real chance" to end the war in&nbsp;Gaza.&nbsp;"I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East," he said.</p> </li> <li> <p>Explosions heard clearly in southern Israel as a result of intense Israeli attacks&nbsp;on Gaza, Al Jazeera reported, citing Israeli media.</p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </article>
www.middleeasteye.net
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
saulstaniforth.bsky.social
"You'll see certain people, including political pundits, saying lets not be hysterical, Britain is not lurching towards authoritarianism. I don't know what else you call it, it absolutely is, & its a direct result of its support for Israels genocide"

Barry Malone on @novaramedia.com
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
saulstaniforth.bsky.social
Israel continues to attack & seize vessels in international waters & kidnapping those on board
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
councilestatemedia.uk
British arms exports to Israel have reached record highs during the genocide. These arms exports are illegal under British and international law and constitute war crimes. Such arms exports make Israel’s genocide possible.
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
adambienkov.bsky.social
A BBC spokesperson now says they will offer to interview Zack Polanski on the Laura Kuenssberg show "in the coming weeks" after cancelling their planned interview with him during the Green Party conference.

Requests for an interview following his election as Green leader were also denied
BBC Laura Kuenssberg Show Accused of Anti-Green Bias After Cancelling Zack Polanski Interview
The new Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
UN rights office flags ill-treatment of Gaza flotilla activists detained in Israel - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/un-rights-office-flags-ill-treatment-gaza-flotilla-activists-detained
UN rights office flags ill-treatment of Gaza flotilla activists detained in Israel
<article data-history-node-id="429725" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/un-rights-office-flags-ill-treatment-gaza-flotilla-activists-detained" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/un-rights-office-flags-ill-treatment-gaza-flotilla-activists-detained" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">UN rights office flags ill-treatment of Gaza flotilla activists detained in Israel</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>The UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on Monday said that his office&nbsp;had received worrying information about the ill-treatment of&nbsp;Global Sumud Flotilla activists detained in Israel, Anadolu news agency reported.&nbsp;</p> <p>"We have received worrying information of ill-treatment and violations of due process rights of the flotilla participants," the spokesperson said.&nbsp;</p> <p>He added that the office "has long raised the alarm regarding the intentionally degrading conditions" in Israeli prisons and detention centres.</p> <p>More than 400 activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers were detained after Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound aid flotilla earlier this week.</p> <p>Some of the detainees have since been deported, while proceedings for others are still underway.</p> <p>Spanish activists of the Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla on Monday&nbsp;alleged mistreatment and violation of rights by Israeli authorities.</p> <p>Earlier,&nbsp;Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that allegations regarding the abusive treatment of climate activist Greta Thunberg are "very serious" if confirmed.&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </article>
www.middleeasteye.net
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
adambienkov.bsky.social
Keir Starmer’s spokesman asked about Israel detaining British citizens who were on the Gaza aid flotilla, while in international waters, replies that it is a “matter for the Israeli Government”
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
robertmullins.bsky.social
If I were an investigative journalist in the UK (are there any left?), I would be having a good look at the extent to which NHS leadership seems to have allied itself with a fringe medical movement that more or less condones conversion therapy. qnews.com.au/australian-r...
Australian report says UK’s Cass review should not guide transgender healthcare
QNews LGBTIQA+ News
qnews.com.au
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
Green Party demands ban on Israeli military as terror group and Balfour apology - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/green-party-demands-ban-israeli-military-terror-group-and-balfour
Green Party demands ban on Israeli military as terror group and Balfour apology
<article data-history-node-id="429727" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/green-party-demands-ban-israeli-military-terror-group-and-balfour" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/green-party-demands-ban-israeli-military-terror-group-and-balfour" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Green Party demands ban on Israeli military as terror group and Balfour apology</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>The Green Party has voted for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli</a>&nbsp;military to be banned as a terrorist organisation and for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk" target="_blank">Britain</a>&nbsp;to apologise for the Balfour Declaration.</p> <p>Members voted for the motion at the Green Party's annual conference in Bournemouth on Sunday, making it party policy.</p> <p>The motion called for the Israeli military to be proscribed, which would make membership of the Israeli military or even glorifying it a terrorist offence under British counterterror legislation.</p> <p>Party leader Zack Polanski backed the motion, saying in the conference hall that to do so was a "moral imperative".</p> <p>The motion also said that Britain "should formally apologise to the people of Palestine for the Balfour Declaration", which in 1917 expressed British support for the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.</p> <h3>Read more: <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/green-party-demands-ban-israeli-military-terror-group-and-apology-balfour-declaration">Green Party demands ban on Israeli military as terror group and Balfour apology</a></h3> <figure role="group" class="media-block"> <div class="group-inner"> <div alt="Zack Polanski, of the Green Party, attends a demonstration outside Downing Street in central London to oppose the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, on 9 September 2025 (AFP)" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="91042d41-77c6-4643-b718-0dde1a3baf76" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/images-story/000_73xb3rc-2.jpg" width="1024" height="576" alt="Zack Polanski, of the Green Party, attends a demonstration outside Downing Street in central London to oppose the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, on 9 September 2025 (AFP)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </div> <figcaption>Zack Polanski, of the Green Party, attends a demonstration outside Downing Street in central London to oppose the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, on 9 September 2025 (AFP)</figcaption> </div> </figure> <p><span style="background: url(&quot;https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png&quot;) rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> </div> </div> </article>
www.middleeasteye.net
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
declassifieduk.org
"Blair? Isn’t he the one who stood with Bush in the Iraq war? What did he do there except bring destruction?"

Here's what Palestinians think about the proposal for former UK prime minister Tony Blair to rule over Gaza👇
www.declassifieduk.org/in-gaza-outr...
In Gaza, outrage spreads at Trump’s ‘Governor Blair’ plan
Palestinians have not forgotten Tony Blair’s invasion of Iraq.
www.declassifieduk.org
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
owenjones.bsky.social
Israel’s cheerleaders are conflating Jewish people with Israel and its crimes.

This is a lie - and as @naamoduk.bsky.social's Emili Stevenson tells me, it’s dangerous.
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
adambienkov.bsky.social
BBC accused of 'extraordinary' anti-Green bias after party say the Laura Kuenssberg Show scrapped a promised interview with @zackpolanski.bsky.social on Sunday.

Green sources say the show also refused to interview Polanski after he was elected as leader last month

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/06/b...
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
esqueer.net
In the last 2 weeks MAGA aligned people have done 2 attempted mass shootings of a gay bar and pride center in Arizona and Texas, murdered 2 teenage girls for mocking Charlie Kirk, and torched a judge's home.

Meanwhile, the government mobilized the military to go after the left.
Reposted by Ruth Aylett
inksweatandtears.co.uk
Welcome to day five of National Poetry Day at Ink Sweat & Tears!

We hope that you enjoy today’s poets - Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana, Ruth Aylett, Brian Comber - and their examination of imaginary/creative Play:

inksweatandtears.co.uk/play-for-nat...

#InkSweatandTears #NationalPoetryDay