Ruth Watson
@ruthwatson.bsky.social
24K followers 2K following 11K posts
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.
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Reposted by Ruth Watson
davidheniguk.bsky.social
Takes some doing, but I think Kemi Badenoch has found the policies to tank the economy even quicker than Liz Truss if given the chance.

Fantasy tax and spending cuts plus trade chaos with neighbours from leaving the ECHR. Great stuff!
samfr.bsky.social
Good to see the Conservative Party committed to keeping the deficit down by *checks notes* spending £2 billion giving tax breaks for private education, creating a massive new deportation force and pledging to maintain pensioner benefits.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
johnswinney.bsky.social
Scotland has enormous resources and huge potential, but we are being held back by Westminster governments that treat us like an afterthought.

It’s time for a fresh start. An independent Scotland.

Today I have published our latest paper on what it could look like: www.gov.scot/publications...
Reposted by Ruth Watson
jambookshopuk.bsky.social
A cool charity in Hoxton that teaches & gives disadvantaged kids skills in filmmaking has asked me a question:

Any female animators want to take part in a mentorship programme they run?

They've been doing good work for 25+ years.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
keithwdickinson.bsky.social
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
ruthwatson.bsky.social
War graves across Europe are full of the bodies of men who died fighting fascism.

If you are not anti-fascism, you enable and promote the kind of conditions that led to their deaths.

Leave your poppies at the door this November.

We see you.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
Reposted by Ruth Watson
orkneylibrary.bsky.social
Happy publication day to regular Orkney Library visitor
@anncleeves.bsky.social. The Killing Stones has just been published and features D.I. Jimmy Perez but now he has moved from Shetland to #Orkney!

It's less sassermaet and more fatty cuttie. #IYKYK

Available now from your local library.
The cover of The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves
Reposted by Ruth Watson
antizionistjew.bsky.social
From Gaza, A message for the Global Sumud Flotilla and the world
ruthwatson.bsky.social
Civil liberties seem to be at real risk under Starmer’s watch.
scotnational.bsky.social
Keir Starmer has threatened to crack down on the chants used at pro-Palestine protests in England
Keir Starmer threatens crackdown on pro-Palestine protest chants
www.thenational.scot
Reposted by Ruth Watson
scotnational.bsky.social
NEW: First Minister John Swinney has said that devolution has 'reached its limits' and that the UK Government is holding Scotland back
John Swinney: Devolution has reached its limits and UK Government holds Scotland back
www.thenational.scot
Reposted by Ruth Watson
scotnational.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE: Global Sumud Flotilla activist Yvonne Ridley has accused the Labour Government of refusing to assist her after being imprisoned by Israel
Flotilla activist Yvonne Ridley slams UK's 'shameful' response to Israel imprisonment
www.thenational.scot
Reposted by Ruth Watson
scotnational.bsky.social
An NHS Scotland doctor has reportedly been detained by Israel after sailing in a second flotilla to deliver aid to Gaza
NHS Scotland doctor detained by Israel in second flotilla mission to Gaza
www.thenational.scot
Reposted by Ruth Watson
scotnational.bsky.social
Campaigners and politicians have responded to the publication of the Scottish Government’s latest paper on independence
Campaigners react to Scottish Government's latest independence paper
www.thenational.scot
Reposted by Ruth Watson
asls.org.uk
…in ma dreams, ma dou,
I’m staunin here upricht, wi’ you
the lang sheld that I grue ahind.

—Don Paterson, “The Human Sheld”
published in RAIN (Faber, 2010)
#Scotstober #poem #poetry
www.faber.co.uk/product/9780...
The Human Sheld
by Don Paterson

The reason, gin ye waant the truth,
I sleep like this – ma gairdie stieve
upon yer breist, its steekit nieve
laid on yer sma’ hert like an aith –

is no’ for waarmth or peace o’ mind
but that in ma dreams, ma dou,
I’m staunin here upricht, wi’ you
the lang sheld that I grue ahind.
Reposted by Ruth Watson
unison.org.uk
Join us at UNISON Centre for our Standing in Power and Pride event, hosted by UNISON and the Royal College of Midwives.
📅 A day of inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, and powerful storytelling.
Book your tickets here: unsn.uk/4h72ZmE
National Black History Event - Standing in Power and Pride - Where next ?
Come , join and partake with UNISON's National Black Members Committee & Royal College of Midwives at their National Black History event.
www.eventbrite.com
Reposted by Ruth Watson
ruthwatson.bsky.social
The far-right is full of violent racists, woman-beaters, and thugs.

It is only a surprise they take so long to be discovered.
ruslantrad.bsky.social
The radical right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has fired its head of parliamentary security after it was discovered that he had been convicted of menacing two Syrian children with a gun.
AfD security head threatened Syrian children with gun
Philipp Roensch has been fired by the radical right-wing party’s parliamentary group — but he is still listed as a member of its co-leader’s local committee
www.thetimes.com
ruthwatson.bsky.social
I am mixed race but 'pass' as white.

With an unasked-for pass to the 'great white club', I frequently am aghast at the things people say when they think they are in what they consider to be a safe space

Less bigotry goes unchallenged than it did in the 1970s, but #Racists do feel emboldened again.
ruthwatson.bsky.social
Brexit.

The answer is Brexit.
adambienkov.bsky.social
"15 years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are," says Kemi Badenoch.

Any ideas what may have happened in the interim?
ruthwatson.bsky.social
The racist race to the bottom between the Tories and Reform is stark to see.

Sadly, Labour seem determined to continue with the dog whistles as they, falteringly, look down the same path.
saulstaniforth.bsky.social
"You go to some places like Handsworth.. parts of Dewsbury, Bradford, Leicester, where you see.. a single ethnicity.. we don't think that's healthy thing"

Kevin Hollinrake is MP for Thirsk and Malton, which according to the 2021 census is 98% white.