Caroline Coetzee
@sunwitch.bsky.social
Gently morphing from youth opera direction to libretto writing. Unrepent old leftie. Foreigner. She / her.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
There has been a relentless, cacophonous campaign to stigmatise pro-Palestinian activists. But the inconvenient truth is that these are just ordinary people of good conscience who see the horrors of Gaza and simply cannot bear to stand by and do nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I’m on hunger strike in a British prison. This is why | Amu Gib
Our demands are simple – and they start with stopping the flow of arms to Israel, says activist Amu Gib
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
There has been a relentless, cacophonous campaign to stigmatise pro-Palestinian activists. But the inconvenient truth is that these are just ordinary people of good conscience who see the horrors of Gaza and simply cannot bear to stand by and do nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
If the reporting on the Peggie decision tells us anything, it should be that the way news gets reported in this country has little to do with truth, and much more to do with narrative - as well as whose heavily spun press release lands on journos desks first.
December 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
If the reporting on the Peggie decision tells us anything, it should be that the way news gets reported in this country has little to do with truth, and much more to do with narrative - as well as whose heavily spun press release lands on journos desks first.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
So this week shall I write about how killing unarmed civilians is murder or about how unwise it would be to limit the human right against torture.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
December 8, 2025 at 7:57 AM
So this week shall I write about how killing unarmed civilians is murder or about how unwise it would be to limit the human right against torture.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
Western liberal democracies in 2025.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Since we are talking poetry and words, the phrase “rent-free in your head” makes me so sad… the idea of rent is so corrosive and pervasive, it’s considered an exception to have thoughts, feelings, ideas, poetry in your mind, rent-free!!
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 7, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Since we are talking poetry and words, the phrase “rent-free in your head” makes me so sad… the idea of rent is so corrosive and pervasive, it’s considered an exception to have thoughts, feelings, ideas, poetry in your mind, rent-free!!
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Britain isn’t deep in crackpot NF politics by accident, but because our political and media elite willed this into existence, for their own ends. This is the result of the choices made by our most important people at every key juncture, and they will fight to the death to keep it this way.
December 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Britain isn’t deep in crackpot NF politics by accident, but because our political and media elite willed this into existence, for their own ends. This is the result of the choices made by our most important people at every key juncture, and they will fight to the death to keep it this way.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
I think Transactual put it best (in reference to the girl guides) and now Labour too:
"There is no problem being solved here, only harm being done."
All to appease the right, who hate them anyway - shame on them.
"There is no problem being solved here, only harm being done."
All to appease the right, who hate them anyway - shame on them.
December 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I think Transactual put it best (in reference to the girl guides) and now Labour too:
"There is no problem being solved here, only harm being done."
All to appease the right, who hate them anyway - shame on them.
"There is no problem being solved here, only harm being done."
All to appease the right, who hate them anyway - shame on them.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Because Britain's right wing press hates young people - and it is the master Wes Streeting serves.
Why is Wes Streeting coming for my ADHD medication?
Why is Wes Streeting coming for my ADHD medication?
Why is Wes Streeting coming for my ADHD medication?
www.independent.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Because Britain's right wing press hates young people - and it is the master Wes Streeting serves.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
being ruled by tiny men bereft of both curiosity and the ability to feel wonder is a terrible fate
November 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
being ruled by tiny men bereft of both curiosity and the ability to feel wonder is a terrible fate
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Stoppard always feels clever in a way that so so many writers mimic, but everyone else copies the surface. the Stoppard magic is that the cleverness is impossibly thin, basically transparent, and there’s this unending well of feeling on the other side
November 29, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Stoppard always feels clever in a way that so so many writers mimic, but everyone else copies the surface. the Stoppard magic is that the cleverness is impossibly thin, basically transparent, and there’s this unending well of feeling on the other side
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Perfect Tom Stoppard story from DTel obituary:
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
November 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Perfect Tom Stoppard story from DTel obituary:
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
His response to a letter from Harold Pinter canvassing support for a proposal to have the Comedy Theatre in London rechristened the Pinter Theatre, “Have you thought, instead, of changing your name to Harold Comedy?”
We shed as we pick up, like travelers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it.
Et in Arcadia
Et in Arcadia
November 29, 2025 at 7:03 PM
We shed as we pick up, like travelers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it.
Et in Arcadia
Et in Arcadia
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
“Labour risks treating compassion as weakness and cruelty as the only credible currency of control. That is not pragmatism; that is capitulation. This is the moment when the Labour government — and the party as a whole — must reckon with its own soul.“
Mahmood’s Immigration Plan Breaks Labour’s Promises
Shabana Mahmood’s newly unveiled asylum and returns policy is being sold as a moment of ‘restoring order’. In truth, it marks a profound retreat from the humane, pragmatic approach Labour promised vot...
www.hrw.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM
“Labour risks treating compassion as weakness and cruelty as the only credible currency of control. That is not pragmatism; that is capitulation. This is the moment when the Labour government — and the party as a whole — must reckon with its own soul.“
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
can’t believe we have to say it again and again: women fascists are still fascists even when they show up for women stuff, and that certainly doesn’t make them feminists.
November 18, 2025 at 10:22 PM
can’t believe we have to say it again and again: women fascists are still fascists even when they show up for women stuff, and that certainly doesn’t make them feminists.
This is it. Of all the many excellent arguments being made against the new proposals this lies at the heart of it.
I struggle to see why turning ourselves into a society so unwelcoming that even those afraid for the lives are deterred from coming is something we would actually *want*.
November 17, 2025 at 8:38 AM
This is it. Of all the many excellent arguments being made against the new proposals this lies at the heart of it.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Exactly one woman has won the Booker in the past six years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 16, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Exactly one woman has won the Booker in the past six years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Pretty sure it’s racism which is tearing Britain apart
Shabana Mahmood: ‘Illegal migration is tearing Britain apart’
The home secretary is planning to introduce a 20-year wait for permanent stay to end a ‘golden ticket’ for asylum seekers
www.thetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Pretty sure it’s racism which is tearing Britain apart
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Deep breath, once more for those at the back, seeking asylum is not illegal. No matter route used, which considering Labour has closed pretty much all the last remaining alternatives means irregular ones.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
November 16, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Deep breath, once more for those at the back, seeking asylum is not illegal. No matter route used, which considering Labour has closed pretty much all the last remaining alternatives means irregular ones.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
Anti-immigration sentiments are stoked by politicians like Mahmood, not people seeking safety.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
When Tommy Robinson is celebrating your policies it is time to take a long hard look in the mirror and then quit politics forever.
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics
November 16, 2025 at 10:01 AM
When Tommy Robinson is celebrating your policies it is time to take a long hard look in the mirror and then quit politics forever.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
At this moment, every single person supporting Labour is fighting for a far-right government in the UK.
November 16, 2025 at 10:10 AM
At this moment, every single person supporting Labour is fighting for a far-right government in the UK.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
English councils are planning to sell social clubs, sports centres and shopping arcades as they bet on a fire sale of assets to balance the books, according to a survey of local authorities.
The key cities group of councils, which represents second-tier cities in England, said 60% of councils were planning to sell assets to meet the escalating costs of adult and children’s social care. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
"Almost all Palestinians have been displaced to ‘red zone’ where no reconstruction is planned"
Half of Gaza to be stolen, the Palestinians to be left to survive in the remaining ruins of their country
Monstrous, criminal and indefensible
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Half of Gaza to be stolen, the Palestinians to be left to survive in the remaining ruins of their country
Monstrous, criminal and indefensible
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
US military planning for divided Gaza with ‘green zone’ secured by international and Israeli troops
Exclusive: Almost all Palestinians have been displaced to ‘red zone’ where no reconstruction is planned
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
"Almost all Palestinians have been displaced to ‘red zone’ where no reconstruction is planned"
Half of Gaza to be stolen, the Palestinians to be left to survive in the remaining ruins of their country
Monstrous, criminal and indefensible
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Half of Gaza to be stolen, the Palestinians to be left to survive in the remaining ruins of their country
Monstrous, criminal and indefensible
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
Jupiter says trans rights
🔭 Jupiter in Ultraviolet from Hubble
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble; Processing & License: Judy Schmidt
star.ucl.ac.uk/~apod/apod/a...
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble; Processing & License: Judy Schmidt
star.ucl.ac.uk/~apod/apod/a...
November 11, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Jupiter says trans rights
"Chikondi Chabvuta-Mkawa, a women’s rights advocate from Malawi and the gender coordinator for a group of the 44 nations designated as “least developed countries”, said the row over the definition of gender was a distraction from ensuring measures to address inequalities are funded."
No shit!
No shit!
Row over definition of ‘gender’ hangs over Cop30 plans to support women
Advocates say conservative states’ push to define gender as ‘biological sex’ would backslide on decade-old language within the UN
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:03 PM
"Chikondi Chabvuta-Mkawa, a women’s rights advocate from Malawi and the gender coordinator for a group of the 44 nations designated as “least developed countries”, said the row over the definition of gender was a distraction from ensuring measures to address inequalities are funded."
No shit!
No shit!
Reposted by Caroline Coetzee
But what alarms me in all this is how the girls who were victimized by these men are largely forgotten. I want us to find ways of centering them in the discourse.
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
But what alarms me in all this is how the girls who were victimized by these men are largely forgotten. I want us to find ways of centering them in the discourse.