Ruth Watson
@ruthwatson.bsky.social
Journalist. Activist. Working for a better tomorrow today.
Political perspectives. Sustainability. Resilience. Food security. Social justice.
Scottish. Irish. Algerian. Kabyl.
There is no Planet B.
Political perspectives. Sustainability. Resilience. Food security. Social justice.
Scottish. Irish. Algerian. Kabyl.
There is no Planet B.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
To buy ethically produced - non illegally Israeli settler produced dates - visit PSC’s online shop - and look for “ZayToun” - a social enterprise supporting Palestinian farmers through fair trade:
shop.palestinecampaign.org/collections/...
or visit:
DonateDirectly.com
shop.palestinecampaign.org/collections/...
or visit:
DonateDirectly.com
Zaytoun products
ZAYTOUN FOOD PRODUCTS WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO UK ADDRESSES Experience the great taste of Palestine. From fudgy Medjoul dates, sweet crunchy almonds, zesty za’atar, smoky freekeh or nutty maftoul, Zayt...
shop.palestinecampaign.org
February 16, 2026 at 12:13 AM
To buy ethically produced - non illegally Israeli settler produced dates - visit PSC’s online shop - and look for “ZayToun” - a social enterprise supporting Palestinian farmers through fair trade:
shop.palestinecampaign.org/collections/...
or visit:
DonateDirectly.com
shop.palestinecampaign.org/collections/...
or visit:
DonateDirectly.com
Reposted by Ruth Watson
"Large areas of the North Atlantic in January were the warmest on record for the time of year" ... says it all
www.ft.com/content/e3b8... @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/e3b8... @financialtimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:15 PM
"Large areas of the North Atlantic in January were the warmest on record for the time of year" ... says it all
www.ft.com/content/e3b8... @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/e3b8... @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Ruth Watson
France assembles magistrate team to examine 'Epstein files'
www.dw.com/en/epstein-f...
www.dw.com/en/epstein-f...
France assembles magistrate team to examine 'Epstein files'
A team of magistrates will search the so-called "Epstein files" to identify any further possible offences. The case of French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel is to be thoroughly re-examined.
www.dw.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:41 PM
France assembles magistrate team to examine 'Epstein files'
www.dw.com/en/epstein-f...
www.dw.com/en/epstein-f...
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Of course. Why would you invest in soft power?
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Of course. Why would you invest in soft power?
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
It just helps in the kind of warfare that:
a) Russia has shown it's actually good at;
b) Russia is waging on the West already;
c) The UK/NATO nuclear deterrent is useless in preventing;
d) Costs a fraction to fund compared to military hardware.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
I love it when new archaeological research is coupled with beautiful photographs of the artifacts. Exciting work on the exceptional Younger Dryas-age organic technologies of some of North America’s first peoples.
www.johnhawks.net/p/complex-fi...
www.johnhawks.net/p/complex-fi...
Complex fiber and wood technologies of the first Great Basin peoples
From Cougar Mountain Cave and Paisley Caves, Oregon, come remarkably preserved examples of perishable materials.
www.johnhawks.net
February 15, 2026 at 4:12 PM
I love it when new archaeological research is coupled with beautiful photographs of the artifacts. Exciting work on the exceptional Younger Dryas-age organic technologies of some of North America’s first peoples.
www.johnhawks.net/p/complex-fi...
www.johnhawks.net/p/complex-fi...
Reposted by Ruth Watson
I'm not sure I could ever forgive this government if it allows the BBC World Service to die
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:28 PM
I'm not sure I could ever forgive this government if it allows the BBC World Service to die
Reposted by Ruth Watson
the loss of the World Service would be a tragedy and huge lost of soft power for Britain
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:02 PM
the loss of the World Service would be a tragedy and huge lost of soft power for Britain
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Oh for absolute sputs sake
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
BBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequencies
Russian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts
inews.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Oh for absolute sputs sake
The #BBCWorldService provides remarkable quality broadcasting.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
Souvenir from one of my years at the BBC World Service...
melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-...
melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.com/2012/08/our-...
Our African news
Hello people. As you can imagine, I am not in London only to enjoy the beautiful and rich art scene and the cultural diversity. I a...
melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:29 PM
The #BBCWorldService provides remarkable quality broadcasting.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
The UK was declared measles free in 2017.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
“Seven schools and a nursery have reported more than 60 suspected cases of measles in an area of north London, and labs have confirmed 34 cases since January 12. Some children have been treated in hospital.”
archive.md/2026.02.1...
archive.md/2026.02.1...
February 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM
The UK was declared measles free in 2017.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
Vaccine programs completely eliminated it.
Since then, pro sickness conspiracy theorists and anti science idiots have enabled its return.
The #BBCWorldService provides remarkable quality broadcasting.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:24 PM
The #BBCWorldService provides remarkable quality broadcasting.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
Destroying it would be a significant act of cultural harm
the kind of sabotage I expect from the Conservatives.
To see Labour at it too? Appalling.
Shame on you @lisanandymp.bsky.social and the whole @labouruk.bsky.social Government.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
It is absolute and utter neglect to let this come this close to the wire just as the US has let most of its overseas broadcasting shutter.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:32 PM
It is absolute and utter neglect to let this come this close to the wire just as the US has let most of its overseas broadcasting shutter.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
It has been a another busy news week in Shetland, with Shetland News publishing 38 stories, three news round-ups, one election news round-up and eight letters across the last seven days.
shet.news/1uwkm
shet.news/1uwkm
Looking back on the week: Scalloway pool, ferry frustrations and Sullom Voe concerns
IT HAS been a another busy news week in Shetland, with Shetland News publishing 38 stories, three news round-ups, one election news round-up and eight letters...
shet.news
February 15, 2026 at 8:28 PM
It has been a another busy news week in Shetland, with Shetland News publishing 38 stories, three news round-ups, one election news round-up and eight letters across the last seven days.
shet.news/1uwkm
shet.news/1uwkm
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Putin murdered Alexei Navalny in the most disgusting and performative way.
He's a psychopath and a monster.
Now look at politicians in Britain, Europe, and America who are either looking the other way - or engaging in abject whataboutery.
He's a psychopath and a monster.
Now look at politicians in Britain, Europe, and America who are either looking the other way - or engaging in abject whataboutery.
February 15, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Putin murdered Alexei Navalny in the most disgusting and performative way.
He's a psychopath and a monster.
Now look at politicians in Britain, Europe, and America who are either looking the other way - or engaging in abject whataboutery.
He's a psychopath and a monster.
Now look at politicians in Britain, Europe, and America who are either looking the other way - or engaging in abject whataboutery.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Gary Lineker, "Jim Ratcliffe is a migrant himself, an economic migrant, he lives in Monaco"
"A lot of the immigrants contribute enormously, and the facts show you that, in terms of revenue, paying tax etc"
"Whereas Jim in Monaco, is doing everything he can to avoid paying tax"
"A lot of the immigrants contribute enormously, and the facts show you that, in terms of revenue, paying tax etc"
"Whereas Jim in Monaco, is doing everything he can to avoid paying tax"
February 15, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Gary Lineker, "Jim Ratcliffe is a migrant himself, an economic migrant, he lives in Monaco"
"A lot of the immigrants contribute enormously, and the facts show you that, in terms of revenue, paying tax etc"
"Whereas Jim in Monaco, is doing everything he can to avoid paying tax"
"A lot of the immigrants contribute enormously, and the facts show you that, in terms of revenue, paying tax etc"
"Whereas Jim in Monaco, is doing everything he can to avoid paying tax"
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Reminder that Francesca Albanese is not being targeted for a sentence twisted and lifted out of context in a speech.
She is being targeted for daring to name the names of giant companies complicit in the crime of genocide.
They would rather destroy international law than be accountable to it.
She is being targeted for daring to name the names of giant companies complicit in the crime of genocide.
They would rather destroy international law than be accountable to it.
It was my great honour to interview the one and only Francesca Albanese yesterday. Watch here, and find out why Trump and Rubio are so determined to stop her vital work:
zeteo.com/p/israels-te...
zeteo.com/p/israels-te...
Israel's Tech Boom & the Economy of Genocide
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur, joins Naomi to discuss calls for her removal and her latest report documenting the 'corporate machinery sustaining Israel’s settler-colonial project.’
zeteo.com
February 15, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Reminder that Francesca Albanese is not being targeted for a sentence twisted and lifted out of context in a speech.
She is being targeted for daring to name the names of giant companies complicit in the crime of genocide.
They would rather destroy international law than be accountable to it.
She is being targeted for daring to name the names of giant companies complicit in the crime of genocide.
They would rather destroy international law than be accountable to it.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
This is awesome. Hope to see some of them competing in Hawaiʻi in the future.
VIDEO: 🇸🇳 Surfing entices Senegalese girls back to school
Senegal's primary school completion rate was just 60% for girls and 55% for boys in 2022, according to the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa
Senegal's primary school completion rate was just 60% for girls and 55% for boys in 2022, according to the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa
February 15, 2026 at 4:37 PM
This is awesome. Hope to see some of them competing in Hawaiʻi in the future.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
If you've seen the Sunday Times today you'll know Labour Together were secretly hiring people to investigate journalists.
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Starmer allies hired investigators to look into author of McSweeney book
KEIR Starmer's allies hired private investigators to explore the background of an author whose book led to the resignation of the Prime Minister's…
www.thenational.scot
February 15, 2026 at 12:12 PM
If you've seen the Sunday Times today you'll know Labour Together were secretly hiring people to investigate journalists.
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Blue whales deserve a drama-free commute! 🐳
That’s why WWF is helping to map the route of a blue whale population in the Eastern South Pacific to help create the first high seas Marine Protected Area. 🌎
https://www.wwf.org.uk/articles/safe-passage-protecting-pacific-giants
That’s why WWF is helping to map the route of a blue whale population in the Eastern South Pacific to help create the first high seas Marine Protected Area. 🌎
https://www.wwf.org.uk/articles/safe-passage-protecting-pacific-giants
Safe passage: Protecting pacific giants
WWF are working with partners within the Easter blue corridor, in support of the Chilean government to promote a Marine Protected Area in international waters.
www.wwf.org.uk
February 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Blue whales deserve a drama-free commute! 🐳
That’s why WWF is helping to map the route of a blue whale population in the Eastern South Pacific to help create the first high seas Marine Protected Area. 🌎
https://www.wwf.org.uk/articles/safe-passage-protecting-pacific-giants
That’s why WWF is helping to map the route of a blue whale population in the Eastern South Pacific to help create the first high seas Marine Protected Area. 🌎
https://www.wwf.org.uk/articles/safe-passage-protecting-pacific-giants
Reposted by Ruth Watson
This isn't a purely philosophical or semantic argument about what "British" means.
Once you accept different tiers of British citizenship you gain a way to formally discriminate.
USSR documents famously had a "5th line" denoting ethnicity. Stalin's nationalist repressions used this as their basis.
Once you accept different tiers of British citizenship you gain a way to formally discriminate.
USSR documents famously had a "5th line" denoting ethnicity. Stalin's nationalist repressions used this as their basis.
It *literally* does.
Thats what it is. A document which says youre British.
Thats what it is. A document which says youre British.
February 15, 2026 at 2:01 PM
This isn't a purely philosophical or semantic argument about what "British" means.
Once you accept different tiers of British citizenship you gain a way to formally discriminate.
USSR documents famously had a "5th line" denoting ethnicity. Stalin's nationalist repressions used this as their basis.
Once you accept different tiers of British citizenship you gain a way to formally discriminate.
USSR documents famously had a "5th line" denoting ethnicity. Stalin's nationalist repressions used this as their basis.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
"It is the first time anywhere in the world that an insect species receives this kind of legal status."
www.ecoticias.com/en/for-the-f....
#bees
www.ecoticias.com/en/for-the-f....
#bees
For the first time in global legal history, a country has recognized the legal rights of insects, and it is the stingless bees of the Peruvian Amazon that are taking the first step toward a new model ...
Peru just made history: stingless bees in the Amazon now have legal rights, letting communities sue to defend hives and habitat.
www.ecoticias.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:44 PM
"It is the first time anywhere in the world that an insect species receives this kind of legal status."
www.ecoticias.com/en/for-the-f....
#bees
www.ecoticias.com/en/for-the-f....
#bees
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen:
"The Greenlandic people have never felt threatened. The first time they felt unsafe for real is when an ally talked about acquiring them, buying them. It's outrageous."
"The Greenlandic people have never felt threatened. The first time they felt unsafe for real is when an ally talked about acquiring them, buying them. It's outrageous."
February 14, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen:
"The Greenlandic people have never felt threatened. The first time they felt unsafe for real is when an ally talked about acquiring them, buying them. It's outrageous."
"The Greenlandic people have never felt threatened. The first time they felt unsafe for real is when an ally talked about acquiring them, buying them. It's outrageous."
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Add infertility to the list of other potential, miserable, lifelong consequences. Get vaccinated!
#Measles is a very dangerous, highly infectious disease
Babies can only get vaccinated against measles from 13 months of age
I have a pal whose wee baby caught measles. That child has spent years dealing with the impact measles left on her.
#GetVaccinated
The life you save might not be your own.
Babies can only get vaccinated against measles from 13 months of age
I have a pal whose wee baby caught measles. That child has spent years dealing with the impact measles left on her.
#GetVaccinated
The life you save might not be your own.
February 15, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Add infertility to the list of other potential, miserable, lifelong consequences. Get vaccinated!
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Europe’s vegetable garden yields 3.5m tonnes of produce all year round, enough to feed half a billion people. 1843 goes inside Spain’s plastic sea of greenhouses
The plastic city that feeds half a billion
Inside the greenhouses that serve as Europe’s vegetable garden
econ.st
February 15, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Europe’s vegetable garden yields 3.5m tonnes of produce all year round, enough to feed half a billion people. 1843 goes inside Spain’s plastic sea of greenhouses
#Measles is a very dangerous, highly infectious disease
Babies can only get vaccinated against measles from 13 months of age
I have a pal whose wee baby caught measles. That child has spent years dealing with the impact measles left on her.
#GetVaccinated
The life you save might not be your own.
Babies can only get vaccinated against measles from 13 months of age
I have a pal whose wee baby caught measles. That child has spent years dealing with the impact measles left on her.
#GetVaccinated
The life you save might not be your own.
Pneumonia, blindness, hearing loss and brain inflammation are just some of the impacts measles can do and these are heartbreaking accounts shared here. Measles is extremely infectious but also preventable by the full course of the MMR vaccine #MMR #Measles
‘We almost lost you in the night’ - the life-threatening rise of measles in the UK
It is one of the most infectious diseases around, and can cause blindness and hearing loss – and can also be fatal. Why are cases now soaring and what can be done about it?
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 5:46 PM
#Measles is a very dangerous, highly infectious disease
Babies can only get vaccinated against measles from 13 months of age
I have a pal whose wee baby caught measles. That child has spent years dealing with the impact measles left on her.
#GetVaccinated
The life you save might not be your own.
Babies can only get vaccinated against measles from 13 months of age
I have a pal whose wee baby caught measles. That child has spent years dealing with the impact measles left on her.
#GetVaccinated
The life you save might not be your own.