Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Aug 23

Very sad to learn of passing of Maxamed Saeed Maxamed ‘Gees’, fmr Somaliland Minister of Planning, Director of the Somaliland Academy for Peace & Development, intellectual, professor. I worked for him in 1998 & we remained firm friends ever since. May he rest in peace.

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Aug 22

The IPC’s confirmation of famine in Gaza is not early warning. It’s an indication that it’s already too late to prevent starvation of those already at Stage 5. Immediate ceasefire & full humanitarian access are needed to
keep the situation from worsening

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Famine confirmed in Gaza City is 'failure of humanity', UN chief says

A UN-backed body confirms famine in Gaza Strip and surrounding areas, and says half a million are facing "catastrophic" conditions.

www.bbc.com

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Aug 20

Great and timely piece by my colleagues Giorgia Dóna, Charlotte Sanders & Paolo Novak: As protesters and politicians call for the closure of asylum hotels, what are the alternatives? #migration #asylumseekerhousing #immigration theconversation.com/as-protester...

As protesters and politicians call for the closure of asylum hotels, what are the alternatives?

Long-term use of hotels poses numerous challenges to those living there.

theconversation.com

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Jul 20

Read this letter from the presidents of Gaza’s universities and imagine what it takes to keep a university functioning under the conditions they face. Such bravery and dedication. We need a ceasefire now!

aje.io/66loh2

An open letter from the presidents of Gaza universities

Our campuses may have been razed, but our universities continue to exist.

aje.io

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Reposted by Laura Hammond

richaxe.bsky.social @richaxe.bsky.social · Jul 14

Very excited about ‘Learning from South Omo’ - an exhibition highlighting new research from Southern Ethiopia. Doors open at the Gabre Kristos Desta Centre this Thursday 16th of July. If you’re in Addis then be sure to drop by. And if you’re not, you can read about it here: grnpp.org/learning-fro...

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Jul 14

#Migration Peeps: Our new CoMOOC on Migration research has opened today. Free to join for the next 3 weeks!! Check it out! Share your research/insights/creativity!!!

www.futurelearn.com/courses/conn...

Connecting and Sharing Learning from Global Migration Research - Online Cour

Join a global network of migration researchers and practitioners. Share methods, media, and impact strategies in this interactive course.

www.futurelearn.com

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Jun 14

8 years. I keep thinking about how the kids who we lost would have been young adults now. Like my kids. 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · May 28

That feeling when it's 6:30 am and you're about to board a long-haul flight. So you download 50 files to read/comment on while in the air. Then you buy a @vanityfair.com and ....

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Reposted by Laura Hammond

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · May 22

The US Administration is now explicitly threatening similar illegal, authoritarian assaults on every university in the country.

Our entire system of higher education is under attack. The powers being used as weapons are perversions of the public trust.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · May 22

after announcing that foreign students are being banned from Havard, Noem warns "this should be a warning to every other university to get your act together."

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · May 22

This is a disaster from every angle. And it has nothing to do with addressing antisemitism at Harvard.

Trump administration ends Harvard's ability to enrol international students www.bbc.com/news/article...

Trump administration ends Harvard's ability to enrol international students

The move escalates the administration's row with America's oldest university over hiring, admissions and teaching practices.

www.bbc.com

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · May 13

So nice to meet Somaliland Minister of Environment and Climate Change Minister Abdillahi Jama Osman today in my office at SOAS! Please excuse the mess!

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Reposted by Laura Hammond

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · May 10

"The Centre for Policy Studies claimed the lifetime net fiscal cost of recent migrants would be £234 billion.

However, this used the wrong data for earnings & employment. Simply correcting the errors results in a net fiscal *benefit* of about £125 bn."

www.independent.co.uk/voices/tight...

Tighter restrictions on visas aren’t just mean-spirited, they’re counter-productive

Making it harder for people to come to this country to work, study or stay may get the immigration numbers down, but it’s also a one-way ticket to plummeting growth, argues Jonathan Portes

www.independent.co.uk

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · May 10

Shame on the Worcester Police and on ICE. But I am proud to see City Councillor Etel Haxhiaj, my former student, standing up for her community members who face arrest and deportation. She is as tough as they come, but with a heart of gold.

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · May 10

"Another officer, frustrated, says, 'They don’t need a warrant.' Finally, one of them tells the truth. Due process is not a matter they’re concerned with. The deportation must proceed. Trying to stop it is the unlawful thing"—@billshaner.bsky.social in Worcester www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

“They’re trying to kidnap someone”

On the scene of a brutal ICE arrest in Worcester, Massachusetts.

www.motherjones.com

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · May 1

Last night SOAS President Zeinab Badawi launched Humanitarian Action for Sudan, a group led by nonpartisan Sudanese Diaspora to provide essential relief to civilians caught in the conflict in Sudan. Check out their website here: www.humanitarianactionsudan.org

Humanitarian Action for Sudan

HAS is an initiative led by non-partisan members of the Sudanese diaspora, supporting those on the ground in Sudan providing humanitarian assistance

www.humanitarianactionsudan.org

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · May 1

SOAS is immensely proud to be a partner with HAS. Since the idea for this group was hatched only 3 months ago, they have already started delivering aid across Sudan through trusted local organisations. Please join us in supporting them! Link in previous post ⬆️

Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Apr 30

You know you’ve stayed at work too long when the Central Line looks like this. #tfl

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Apr 23

Oh the irony of the US fretting that the fertility rate is dropping below the 1.8 needed to maintain current population size, who we need to work, pay taxes and care for our elders while at the same time rushing to deport migrants who are - er - working, paying taxes and caring for our grandparents.

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Apr 22

Finally a joint statement from the US’ colleges and universities. This is the kind of unity we need more of.

www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-c...

A Call for Constructive Engagement | AAC&U

A Call for Constructive Engagement

www.aacu.org

Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Apr 11

Mum, can we go to the beach now? Yes we can! Off to tropical southern England, back after Easter.

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Laura Hammond @laurahammond.bsky.social · Apr 9

Beautiful tribute to Amadou Bagayoko by SOAS’ Prof Lucy Durán. Amadou and Mariam have been a constant part of my family’s soundtrack for many years. May he rest in peace.

SOAS Press Office @soaspress.bsky.social · Apr 7

Professor of Music Lucy Durán, wrote for @theconversation.com on the life and legacy of Malian musician, Amadou Bagayoko.

theconversation.com/amadou-bagay...