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
yes. the things that would make social media safer for children are almost all just the things that would make social media non-harmful/much less harmful for *all of us*.
if you do it by age verification then nothing will stop a child in a difficult home accessing stuff via parents' accounts
if you do it by age verification then nothing will stop a child in a difficult home accessing stuff via parents' accounts
The under-16 social media (and VPN, and chatbot) ban is part of a broader policy problem IMV, which is that it is politically easier to talk about e.g. 'child poverty', and you can do a lot of good with that approach, but it has hard limits because ultimately you are also just talking about poverty.
February 16, 2026 at 3:23 PM
yes. the things that would make social media safer for children are almost all just the things that would make social media non-harmful/much less harmful for *all of us*.
if you do it by age verification then nothing will stop a child in a difficult home accessing stuff via parents' accounts
if you do it by age verification then nothing will stop a child in a difficult home accessing stuff via parents' accounts
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Businesses which could be doing more can be encouraged to make meaningful changes when we write to customer service departments, speak to managers and vote with our wallets.
Send polite feedback to the shops we buy our food from.
#keepScotlandTheBrand
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Send polite feedback to the shops we buy our food from.
#keepScotlandTheBrand
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Why buying Scottish food is a quiet vote for the country’s future
MORE than 80 of Scots say where their food comes from matters to them, but fewer than half say they are given enough information about where it is…
www.thenational.scot
February 16, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Businesses which could be doing more can be encouraged to make meaningful changes when we write to customer service departments, speak to managers and vote with our wallets.
Send polite feedback to the shops we buy our food from.
#keepScotlandTheBrand
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Send polite feedback to the shops we buy our food from.
#keepScotlandTheBrand
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Voilà, la crise climatique est bien réelle et nous touche tous.
EN DIRECT, tempête Nils : la Gironde et le Lot-et-Garonne restent en vigilance rouge avant de nouvelles fortes pluies
EN DIRECT, tempête Nils : la Gironde et le Lot-et-Garonne restent en vigilance rouge avant de nouvelles fortes pluies
Météo-France a prolongé ses vigilances crues jusqu’à mardi, avec 14 autres départements du sud et de l’ouest de la France maintenus en vigilance orange. De nouvelles précipitations, particulièrement importantes sur les Pyrénées, sont attendues.
www.lemonde.fr
February 16, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Voilà, la crise climatique est bien réelle et nous touche tous.
'MORE than 80% of Scots say where their food comes from matters to them, but fewer than half say they are given enough information about where it is produced, according to new research by the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland' @nfuscotland.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Why buying Scottish food is a quiet vote for the country’s future
MORE than 80 of Scots say where their food comes from matters to them, but fewer than half say they are given enough information about where it is…
www.thenational.scot
February 16, 2026 at 11:37 AM
'MORE than 80% of Scots say where their food comes from matters to them, but fewer than half say they are given enough information about where it is produced, according to new research by the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland' @nfuscotland.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Reposted by Ruth Watson
And it begins - the #EpsteinFiles Analysis.
February 15, 2026 at 6:05 PM
And it begins - the #EpsteinFiles Analysis.
Supermarkets have immense influence over the food and drink we see on the shelves and huge control, for better and worse. As customers, we can make the choice to help change things for the better.
#FoodAndDrink
#Farming
#Provenance
#Scotland
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
#FoodAndDrink
#Farming
#Provenance
#Scotland
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
'We know the people producing Scotland’s food and drink do a solid job of delivering traceable high-quality items. From farmers to food scientists, trading standards [ @fsscot.bsky.social] and beyond, we have a system which works hard to keep us safe'
Read more:
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Read more:
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Why buying Scottish food is a quiet vote for the country’s future
MORE than 80 of Scots say where their food comes from matters to them, but fewer than half say they are given enough information about where it is…
www.thenational.scot
February 16, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Supermarkets have immense influence over the food and drink we see on the shelves and huge control, for better and worse. As customers, we can make the choice to help change things for the better.
#FoodAndDrink
#Farming
#Provenance
#Scotland
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
#FoodAndDrink
#Farming
#Provenance
#Scotland
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Hungary’s opposition leader Péter Magyar: “We will protect the homeland and regain everything this country was cut off from during 16 years.
“Hungary’s place is in Europe — not only because Hungary needs Europe, but because Europe also needs Hungary.”
“Hungary’s place is in Europe — not only because Hungary needs Europe, but because Europe also needs Hungary.”
February 16, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Hungary’s opposition leader Péter Magyar: “We will protect the homeland and regain everything this country was cut off from during 16 years.
“Hungary’s place is in Europe — not only because Hungary needs Europe, but because Europe also needs Hungary.”
“Hungary’s place is in Europe — not only because Hungary needs Europe, but because Europe also needs Hungary.”
Although it might not always be obvious how making one buying decision over another will influence the supermarkets, the bottom line is: they need us.
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column.
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column.
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Why buying Scottish food is a quiet vote for the country’s future
MORE than 80 of Scots say where their food comes from matters to them, but fewer than half say they are given enough information about where it is…
www.thenational.scot
February 16, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Although it might not always be obvious how making one buying decision over another will influence the supermarkets, the bottom line is: they need us.
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column.
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column.
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Although it might not always be obvious how making one buying decision over another will influence the supermarkets, the bottom line is: they need us.
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
Businesses which could be doing more can be encouraged to make meaningful changes when we write to customer service departments, speak to managers and vote with our wallets.
Send polite feedback to the shops we buy our food from.
#keepScotlandTheBrand
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Send polite feedback to the shops we buy our food from.
#keepScotlandTheBrand
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...
Why buying Scottish food is a quiet vote for the country’s future
MORE than 80 of Scots say where their food comes from matters to them, but fewer than half say they are given enough information about where it is…
www.thenational.scot
February 16, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Although it might not always be obvious how making one buying decision over another will influence the supermarkets, the bottom line is: they need us.
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
We have more power than we might at first think.
My latest column @scotnational.bsky.social
#FoodAndDrink
#Scotland
The world changes for the better when ordinary people stand together with love in their hearts.
Let me tell you a tale of how completely the normies have been mobilized. My 14 year-old niece has done School of Rock for the past 5 years; last summer she was part of their touring band, and the kids loved playing together so much that they decided to keep doing it. (1/?)
February 16, 2026 at 9:45 AM
The world changes for the better when ordinary people stand together with love in their hearts.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
And it is for threads like this that you too should follow @heatherburnstech.bsky.social.
I’ve picked up on an interesting vibe lately that pro-OSA and child safety groups are sussing that spending five years trying to rewrite the global internet (≠ platforms), whilst labelling anyone who criticised them pro-child abuse shills for Big Tech, achieved nothing.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Starmer pledges crackdown on 'addictive elements' of social media
The government's new plans will mean no online platform will get a
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 8:59 AM
And it is for threads like this that you too should follow @heatherburnstech.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Rasmussen Global CEO Fabrice Pothier tells Euronews that Rubio's talk of an "intertwined destiny" for the US and Europe was not an “olive branch". #EuropeToday
Rubio speech friendlier but Europeans 'not naive', top analyst says
Rasmussen Global CEO Fabrice Pothier tells Euronews that Rubio's talk of an "intertwined destiny" for the US and Europe was not an “olive branch".
l.euronews.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Rasmussen Global CEO Fabrice Pothier tells Euronews that Rubio's talk of an "intertwined destiny" for the US and Europe was not an “olive branch". #EuropeToday
Reposted by Ruth Watson
US Big Tech is increasing its lobbying of the Scottish parliament amidst concerns about new hyperscale data centres and the UK's over reliance on a few big companies with strong links to Trump's interests, to run the bulk of our infrastructure
www.thenational.scot/news/2585427...
www.thenational.scot/news/2585427...
Revealed: US tech giants in lobbying blitz of Scottish Parliament
US tech firms have ramped up their lobbying efforts at the Scottish Parliament ...
www.thenational.scot
February 16, 2026 at 9:28 AM
US Big Tech is increasing its lobbying of the Scottish parliament amidst concerns about new hyperscale data centres and the UK's over reliance on a few big companies with strong links to Trump's interests, to run the bulk of our infrastructure
www.thenational.scot/news/2585427...
www.thenational.scot/news/2585427...
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Suisse : un train a déraillé à Goppenstein, la police affirme qu’il y a « probablement des blessés »
Suisse : un train a déraillé à Goppenstein, la police affirme qu’il y a « probablement des blessés »
www.lemonde.fr
February 16, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Suisse : un train a déraillé à Goppenstein, la police affirme qu’il y a « probablement des blessés »
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
UK - The number of women who are driven to suicide by domestic abusers is being under-reported, and their cases overlooked by police, in what has been described by experts as a “national scandal”.
UK - The number of women who are driven to suicide by domestic abusers is being under-reported, and their cases overlooked by police, in what has been described by experts as a “national scandal”.
Revealed: The true toll of female suicides in UK with domestic abuse at their core
Exclusive: Research suggests official statistics could track as few as 6.5% of the true number of cases
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Ruth Watson
There will be people who are understandably desperate to hear this, but it's important to be clear-eyed about Rubio himself and what the Trump administration is doing. 🧵
February 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
There will be people who are understandably desperate to hear this, but it's important to be clear-eyed about Rubio himself and what the Trump administration is doing. 🧵
Reposted by Ruth Watson
And it is for threads like this that you too should be following @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social
There will be people who are understandably desperate to hear this, but it's important to be clear-eyed about Rubio himself and what the Trump administration is doing. 🧵
February 16, 2026 at 9:03 AM
And it is for threads like this that you too should be following @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth Watson
I’m not normally that person but….
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
February 16, 2026 at 8:25 AM
I’m not normally that person but….
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Outstanding quote from Casement.
Roger Casement: “A nation is a very complex thing. It never does consist; it never has consisted solely of men of one blood or one single race – it is like a river, rising in the hills with many sources, many converging streams, that become one great stream.” (1905)
February 16, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Outstanding quote from Casement.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
ChatGPT is Trump's biggest donor? More than oil?! If that's doesn't suggest that the whole investment into ai is just a money laundering/passing on scheme I don't know what does. How much money does the US government invest in openai?
February 16, 2026 at 8:54 AM
ChatGPT is Trump's biggest donor? More than oil?! If that's doesn't suggest that the whole investment into ai is just a money laundering/passing on scheme I don't know what does. How much money does the US government invest in openai?
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Won't be a revelation to anyone but the reason all the worst people on the right are pivoting to talking about race and culture rather than immigration is so they can keep banging the drum even as net migration figures fall (UK) and even reverse (US).
This is the next step and it always was.
This is the next step and it always was.
February 16, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Won't be a revelation to anyone but the reason all the worst people on the right are pivoting to talking about race and culture rather than immigration is so they can keep banging the drum even as net migration figures fall (UK) and even reverse (US).
This is the next step and it always was.
This is the next step and it always was.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Les Bourses européennes ouvrent en hausse
Les Bourses européennes ouvrent en hausse
information.tv5monde.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Les Bourses européennes ouvrent en hausse
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Space's microgravity appears to shift the location of the brains of astronauts—without a clear effect on their health
Spaceflight literally moves your brain
Space's microgravity appears to shift the location of the brains of astronauts—without a clear effect on their health
www.scientificamerican.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Space's microgravity appears to shift the location of the brains of astronauts—without a clear effect on their health
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