Ruthi Brandt
@ruthibrandt.bsky.social
1.6K followers 530 following 1.9K posts
Nature, community, science and social justice. Urban nature and Green politics; Israel-Palestine, as an Israeli living abroad. Just a few of my current interests. Board member for CAG Oxfordshire. She/her. Based in Oxford, UK.
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ruthibrandt.bsky.social
In the interest of tempering my doom-scrolling and feelings of righteous indignation at the world, I'm going to try posting daily something positive, on a personal level (ie - no campaign wins or political progress, as important as they are to celebrate).

So to kick it off -

#positivity
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
zackpolanski.bsky.social
Ever since I finished Question Time, Reform have massively been on the attack.

Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.

Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
zackpolanski.bsky.social
Greens growing. Reform ratttled.

PS - I changed my name back to my family's original Jewish name because I'm proud of being Jewish. If Tice think that makes me a weirdo, I think that makes him an antisemite.

Join.greenparty.org.uk
Tice "green party leader Zack Polanski is a weirdo. Changed his name, claimed hypnosis could increase women's breast size, thinks me should compete in women's sport, thinks women can have a penis. Other than that he's fine. Vote Green. Get weirdo."
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Another insightful and important conversation between Sally and Jess on the @standing-together.bsky.social podcast. This time about the importance, but also the limitations, of #empathy in ST's work, and the wider convo around Israel/Palestine

Do give it a listen 👇

linktr.ee/thelonganswer

1/2
The Long Answer | Instagram | Linktree
View thelonganswer’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like YouTube, Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!
linktr.ee
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
onelifestand87.bsky.social
It is embarassing not to see the BBC pulling up Reform leaders claiming that Nathan Gill was just some fan who got photos taken with Farage - he was an MEP for them & their leader in Wales while taking cash from Russia to act against the UK! Literally the very basics of your job to point this out
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
#Scything is so damn satisfying! 😀

I really enjoyed the session today - seeing the patch so quickly getting done, with only three of us on scythes. No noisy machinery, no gas fumes, just chatting amongst ourselves, and providing a curious spectacle to some of the dogs being walked... 😄
wildabtkennington.bsky.social
Today we completed scything the 'wild' patch at Forest Side, as part of our long-term plans to make the area nicer to look at, while keeping it as a little biodiversity haven. In total it took only 12 scything hours to do whole patch!

Scything is a wonderful new tool for us! For several reasons: /1
A newly cut patch, with a house in the background and trees on the left
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
This is very concerning.

If I had any faith in our current government I'd feel the opposite - encouraged to think that lessons from what's happening elsewhere are being learned, that we have a chance to put in defences.

But I just don't expect Labour to do a whole lot about it. I hope I'm wrong
chrischirp.bsky.social
🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Darn, we're away that weekend, otherwise I would have tried to get to this.

But if you're around, and have an excess of apples, I expect this is probably one of the last Apple Days of the year in Oxford 👇
makespaceoxford.bsky.social
Come to our Aristotle Lane hub on 25th October 11am to 2pm to celebrate Apple Day with us 🍎 🍏

Bring your apples (even the gnarly windfalls) and a clean bottle - we'll have an apple press making juice and apple identification happening so you can find out what kind your tree is 🌳
Apple Day poster featuring the date, time, and location - 1 artistotle lane, Oxford - around the edge of the poster are water color style illustrations of apples, leaves, and berries
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Quite! All these 'in snub to Trump' headlines are both utterly ridiculous, and showing how far journalism has fallen...
mikeachim.bsky.social
It seems Trump was never, ever going to "win" the Nobel Peace Prize. I know headline-writers are having fun with this, but putting aside how absurdly unfit he is to be picked - nominations (338) closed in January, and I think Trump wasn't included? So they'd have to BREAK the rules. Pls report this!
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
magdalenaskipper.bsky.social
Less than 70% of science Nobel prize winners awarded this century hail from the country in which they were awarded their prize.
“Mobility benefits everyone. Each newcomer brings fresh ideas, new techniques & different ways of looking at old problems”
🧪 #academicSky
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
More than 30% of this century’s science Nobel prizewinners immigrated: see their journeys
The most common destination for eventual Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry and medicine since 2000 is the United States, Nature has found.
www.nature.com
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
bradfordgreens.bsky.social
Weird how immigration dominates every headline.

#BBCQT #BBCQuestionTime
@zackpolanski.bsky.social
Graphic. Cut out of Zack Polanski saying " Zia, do you ever think immigration is the number one problem because you spend a lot of time spreading misinformation and fear?" In speech bubble. Cut out of Zia Yusuf from Reform below.
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Interesting comments btw,abt difficulty of those not living the day-to-day reality to realise the role of self interest for those that do.How sense of lack of personal safety challenge ability to empathise.

Which is why I am so in awe with ST activists holding on to empathy despite everything!2/2
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Another insightful and important conversation between Sally and Jess on the @standing-together.bsky.social podcast. This time about the importance, but also the limitations, of #empathy in ST's work, and the wider convo around Israel/Palestine

Do give it a listen 👇

linktr.ee/thelonganswer

1/2
The Long Answer | Instagram | Linktree
View thelonganswer’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like YouTube, Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!
linktr.ee
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
I second this recommendation!
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
rimaanabtawi.bsky.social
“Israel's Channel 12 reported that the army was continuing its gradual withdrawal to the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, in line with Trump's plan, with the pull-out from Gaza City expected to be completed within the next 24 hours.”
rimaanabtawi.bsky.social
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, would lead the 200-strong team of US personnel tasked with "supervising, monitoring, and ensuring there are no violations", however, they would not be deployed inside Gaza itself.

www.newarab.com/news/israeli...
Israeli shelling continues as US troops to oversee Gaza plan
The Israeli government approved the Gaza ceasefire plan overnight, but some strikes were reported in other parts of the war-torn enclave.
www.newarab.com
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
This is very concerning.

If I had any faith in our current government I'd feel the opposite - encouraged to think that lessons from what's happening elsewhere are being learned, that we have a chance to put in defences.

But I just don't expect Labour to do a whole lot about it. I hope I'm wrong
chrischirp.bsky.social
🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
oddthisday.bsky.social
Ah, happy 88th anniversary of the day Oswald Mosley tried to sell fascism to Liverpudlians – and someone concussed him with a brick
A man in a suit stands at a microphone which has been mounted on the roof of a van. There are loudspeakers at his feet, and a building behind him. He has an arm raised, and is flinching as projectiles are hurled at him, because he's a fucking Nazi
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
hallierubenhold.bsky.social
Absolutely love this post. Another example why we need to study history from the bottom up, not necessarily top down.
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
tonybirdlondon.bsky.social
Natasha Walter speaking up for the transphobes at the end of this piece.
I was worried about The Nerve being founded by five ex-Observer journalists and that papers notorious transphobia carrying over into this one.
I can see my fears were correct
thenerve.news
‘It feels good – and quite strange – to think I could vote for what I believe in…’

@natashawalter.bsky.social reports on why young women are flocking to @greenparty.org.uk, won over by @zackpolanski.bsky.social’s stance on topics such as Palestine, refugee rights and economic injustice 🌱
Photo of Zack Polanski. Text: Natasha Walter: why young women are flocking to the Greens
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
oregonian.com
Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
ottoenglish.bsky.social
Twelve Jobs Nigel has earned over £1 million in additional income since the general election.

To understand the scale of it, since the July 2024 election he's earned roughly £100k more as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion than Starmer gets as PM.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Nigel Farage earns over £1m from 12 'second jobs' - check how much your MP earns
The Reform UK leader's most lucrative second jobs include hosting on GB News, serving as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion and recording videos for Cameo
www.mirror.co.uk
Reposted by Ruthi Brandt
ruthibrandt.bsky.social
Got mine (both flu and COVID) booked for later in the month!
annkempster.com
Flu and Covid jabs today. Had to pay for both. Whatevs.

If you are eligible for them on the NHS please get them. If you aren’t, please consider paying.

Respiratory illness is already putting a big strain on hospitals and it’s only October.