Marilyn Anne Campbell
LightNews LightNews
banner
macampbell.bsky.social
Marilyn Anne Campbell
@macampbell.bsky.social
350 followers 610 following 400 posts
Writer interested in animals, nature, and the arts, but distracted by our crumbling ecosystems/society.
Uni of Edinburgh grad student in Int'l Animal Welfare, Ethics & Law
She/her | ON Canada
🐱 Charlotte, Rubin 🐰 George
https://www.marilynannecampbell.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
macampbell.bsky.social
From @stewartprest.ca and @thetyee.ca
Read the full article below.
(support academic institutions; support independent journalism)
Screenshot of an article on the website of the publication The Tyee. Subheading: Stopping President Roomba The world has spent years trying to figure out Trump’s motives. Is a given threat serious? Is it a cunning initial bargaining position? Would he really follow through with some given threat? The reality is much simpler. The president of the United States is like a Roomba. His actions are not strategic. They’re often not even particularly tactical. He simply pushes in a direction, consuming what he can. When he runs into opposition he turns and starts devouring in another direction. Sooner or later, though, he always circles back, and the cycle repeats. To anyone asking “Would he really...” the answer is always “Yes, unless others stop him.”
January 26, 2026 at 7:56 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Indy the Dog beat out five humans to win Best Performer in a Horror or Thriller at the Astra Film Awards. 🐶

I don't usually do horror, but I guess I'll be watching Good Boy.

(I also wanna watch any clips out there of the other nominees' responses!)

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Ast...
Screen shot of a Wikipedia page that reads Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller. At the top in bold as the winner is Indy the Dog in Good Boy as himself. Other nominees were Alison Brie in Together as Millie Wilson, Ethan Hawke in Black Phone 2 as The Grabber. Sally Hawkins in Bring Her Back as Laura. Sophie Thatcher in Companion as Iris. Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later as Spike.
January 10, 2026 at 9:21 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
For fun we just had a look at the big 2026 horoscope published by the CBC and this bit in the intro struck me as, shall we say, noteworthy:

(from www.cbc.ca/life/culture... )
Screenshot of text reads: Amazing transformations to the way we think are set to take place in 2026--and they could permanently alter our conception of what's possible for our futures. The first of these transits will occur on January 26, when imagination- and illusion-ruling Neptune enters brave Aries. The planet of dreams moves slowly through our skies, which means his movements are often felt on a societal level. The last time it moved through Aries was from 1861 to 1875, coinciding with the American Civil War and the abolitionist and spiritual movements. This upcoming journey will last around 13 years, helping reawaken us to our highest ideals and express them with conviction. We may also witness the dawn of intriguing social and spiritual movements. Just be careful of who or what you invest your energy in, as it's often easier to be taken in by deceptive ideologies under this unapologetic influence.
January 1, 2026 at 11:40 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Unusual twist on the standard "weatherperson in a blizzard" report from @weathernetwork.bsky.social .
🔇
December 29, 2025 at 9:38 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Wandering amongst the deer and rabbits and squirrels on this forest-themed wrapping paper is someone who appears to be the lovechild of a grizzly and a wombat.

Happy holidays from the Wombear, I guess?
A drawing of a bear with a sloping face that has no distincrion between the head and muzzle.
December 27, 2025 at 2:16 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Well, the decorations aren't up yet, but we just watched some fabric otters make wildly irresponsible financial decisions, so in our house it is officially the Christmas season.
A promotional photo from the Jim Henson special Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas, showing four ragtag puppet animals playing as a jugband, including one little scamp who has put a hole in the washtub his mother uses to earn a living just so that he could play the washtub bass, a decision he made almost immediately after singing a song with her about how everything will be okay as long as there ain't no hole in the washtub.
November 28, 2025 at 3:43 AM
macampbell.bsky.social
So not a wildlife organization, then.

#HowWeTalkAboutAnimals
Screenshot of a CTV News headline out of Vancouver which reads "Wildlife organization calls for hunting ban to be lifted amid B.C. grizzly attack"
November 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
I was not expecting Canada to be involved in a penguin welfare controversy in London England, but it turns out every Canadian who has paid into the Canada Pension Plan (which is to say, had a job) is part owner of this.

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Screenshot of an article paragraph which reads "Merlin Entertainments is co-run by the Blackstone asset company, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and Kirkbi, the investment arm of the Lego family. It runs attractions across the UK including Alton Towers and Madame Tussauds.
November 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
David was born for this interview.
A screenshot of a paragraph from an article with two phrases highlighted. David Soberman (highlight), a marketing professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, says part of the reason non-alcoholic drinks (highlight) cost as much as their boozy counterparts is psychological.
November 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Things are a little confusing out on the balcony with the Nasturtium still in bloom and snow on the ground.
On a high balcony, an orange flower faces out towards trees in fall colurs that are covered in a light dusting of snow.
November 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Good morning from Charlotte (who would like me to get up and get her breakfast now).
A white and tabby cat laying with her cheek flat on the bed stares directly into the camera.
November 9, 2025 at 1:32 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
A little #Caturday reading with Rubin.
A white cat with tabby markings sleeps on a person's lap next to an open book, his eyes closed tightly.
November 1, 2025 at 4:16 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Wow, I just learned from this job posting that the Toronto Public Library is launching a Centre for Democracy, which sounds like what every city needs right now. I can't wait to see (and support) what they do.

Apply by Nov 7 if you've got what it'll take to run it: tpl.njoyn.com/CL/xweb/xweb...
Screenshot of text. The TPL Centre for Democracy is a glagship initiative of the Library's new Strategic Plan, placing civic engagement and democracy at the forefrontof its mission. The Centre will confront urgent challenges like polarization and misinformation, playing a pivotal role in strengthening democracy and civic life in Canada's largest city, while contributing to global conversations about the evolving role of public librariesin civic renewal.
October 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Bought a new book after watching a random rerun of The Good Place the other night.

George thinks this one is going to take some serious chewing.

#Books #Philosophy #TheGoodPlace #GeorgeTheBun
The book What We Owe to Each Other by Thomas Scanlon sits on an outdoor table. A white domestic rabbit is on the ground beside the table looking up.
October 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
A Swamp Sparrow posed for me last weekend.
#birds
A round sparrow perched on a low branch. They have brown and grey markings on their face with a hint of yellow.
October 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
The game has a few ways to do it - get dirty energy out of the grid; restore forests and oceans; directly reduce emissions from animal agriculture, cars, and factories - it's all good, but you have to get it started, FAST.

Because once the temperature starts to climb, things spiral quickly.

3/4
Screenshot of a game shows a thermometer with temperature bars marked from 1.2 degrees up to 2 degrees. only the very lowest bar has been filled in. At the top of the screen it says End of Game - Drawdown Reached. Plus 1.3 degrees Celsius since 1900.
October 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
The trick, I've found, is to spend the first round aggressively reducing emissions.

Build up the resilience of your local communities? Sure, great.

Set yourself up for extra resources in the future? Also handy.

But if you don't *prioritize* lowering emissions you are, most likely, cooked.

2/4
Screenshot of a game graphic with stats. Over an image of the globe there's a tree icon with the number 5, a wave icon with the number 4, and an icon with a series of fans and the number 4. Text underneath says Carbon Emissions: 5. Sequestered Carbon: 13. Net Carbon: minus 8.
October 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Every day I save the world from the climate crisis.

Not really of course (wouldn't that be great?), but since I learned about the online version of the boardgame Daybreak (which has a solo mode), I've taken 15 minutes a day to see if I can fix this mess.

And I've gotten pretty good at it.

1/4
A screen shot with various icons indicating game status. One section has 12 empty spots with only one filled. The next line says Energy and shows 0 dirty energy and 27 green energy for 27 total energy with an energy demand of 26. There are 5 emissions tokens - one car, one oil tower, two cows, and one garbage can. A final line shows Resilience, with 4 purple shields, 3 green shields, and 3 brown shields.
October 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Bilingual Bunny of Approval / Lapin D'Approbation!
Close up of the Annie's logo which includes a smiling cartoon rabbit and the phrase bunny of approval in French and English.
October 12, 2025 at 4:35 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Haven't even tried this vegan mac and cheese yet, but I already love the rabbit-themed packaging.
A box of Annie's Vegan Mac features a bunny in the logo, while the sauce package features a drawing of a bunny from behind and the words "Hoppiness Starts Here."
October 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Great first session at @animal-justice.bsky.social 's Animal Law and Advocacy Conference. It was fantastic to get an overview of what's happened this year in animal law and policy in Canada. Many stories and issues I'd heard about, but also many I hadn't. Progress is slow, but happening!
#ALAC2025
Panelists sit in front of a screen that reads From Courtroom to Parliament: Major Cases, Bills and Legal Battles in Canadian Animal Law.
September 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Gotta love when the postcard you've been using as a bookmark is suddenly illustrating the text.

Page from Emma Marris' 2021 book Wild Souls, and
@whalesanctuary.bsky.social postcard picked up at the most recent @humanecanada.ca conference.
A paragraph in a book reads "If the Whale Sanctuary Project has its way, SeaWorld's orcas -- and the 3,000 other whales and dolphins in captivity around the world -- won't live out the rest of their lives in tanks. In 2020, the nonprofit selected a site in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, where they plan to net off a bay or cove in the ocean for cetaceans that can't live independently in the wild." A postcard being held against the page features two black and white photos -- a captive orca rising out of the water with a trainer balanced on their closed mouth and a beluga in a tank -- contrasted against a colour photo of a bright blue sky overthe deep blue water of a bay with trees on the far shore. Text reads From Tanks to Tides. Imagine a world in which all whales and dolphins are treated with respect and are no longer confined to concrete tanks in entertainment parks and aquariums. Whale Sanctuary site in Port Hilford Bay, Nova Scotia.
September 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
A recent sighting for #invertfest
I loved the smoky blue swirl in their eye.

(They might be a Long-horned Bee - Melissodes druriellus - but I'm not sure.)
A fuzzy bee on the head of a flower. They have a band of red right behind their head and their eyes have a pale blue pattern inside.
August 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
macampbell.bsky.social
Always know fall migration time is here when I have to leave work immediately after arriving with two window-strike warblers in paper bags.

On our way to the widlife centre.

*Yes, my manger is fantastic.
*Yes, the powers that be know these windows need markers. Supposedly they're working on it.
A small bird with a yellow breast and olive back and wings sits hunched on an interlock pathway, their eyes squinted.
August 28, 2025 at 3:31 PM
macampbell.bsky.social
Behold, a bee butt.
The shiny hiney of a large bee flying away from the camera.
June 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM