While the mainstream discussions are depressingly about *how* best to remove and stop immigrants, it’s a revolutionary act nowadays to say that immigration is actually a positive thing and an essential component of a thriving country, so please join me in doing so!

What's next for @who.int without US engagement? In a new podcast episode, Lancet editors reflect on developments at #WHA78, including the pandemic agreement and shifting dynamics in global health leadership. Listen now 👉 tinyurl.com/7xrhu3rm #LancetVoice

Today Lords will debate an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to end physical punishment in England. We encourage peers to support this crucial amendment to give every child full protection in law from assault. It’s time to #EndPhysicalPunishment.

My letter to the Prime Minister. #immigration

"The bill is the first child centred draft legislation in over a decade, and this opportunity must not be lost." Amend the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to protect children from assault, @drandrewrowland.bsky.social www.bmj.com/content/388/...

👏 Huge congratulations to our brilliant Yanela Aravena Rivas @yanelaaravena.bsky.social who this week passed her PhD with no corrections! 🎓🥳🎉 Her thesis examined the impact of the Chilean governance system on sugar consumption in the country, and her examiners were extremely impressed by her work.

40 countries make first-ever joint statement on corporal punishment to the Human Rights Council.👏 🔗 endcorporalpunishment.org/first-hrc-jo... #endcorporalpunishment #riseuptoendchildabuse

The evidence is clear: physical punishment doesn't work, and is instead linked to poorer mental health, substance misuse, antisocial behaviour, and slower cognitive development. It isn't punishment - it's abuse. @rcpch.bsky.social @nspcc.bsky.social @barnardos.org.uk @childrenscomm.bsky.social

The threat of violence to children should no longer be given legal cover. The time for change is now! childofourtimeblog.org.uk/2025/03/phys... @anjaheilmann.bsky.social @yvonne-kelly.bsky.social @nspcc.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social @ucl-dph.bsky.social @ucl.ac.uk @jessasatomp.bsky.social

Alongside @EllieChowns.bsky.social I have tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill which would introduce equal protection from assault for children. As Prof Andrew Rowland says: "Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“Our amendment is simple: children should have the same legal protections from assault as adults.” Proud to work with Jess Asato MP on a joint op-ed advocating for the abolition of the 'reasonable punishment' defence. Read our full piece here: www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...

Physical punishment is outdated and harmful. It's time we change the law to get rid of the 'reasonable punishment' defence of assault and battery on children. @elliechowns.bsky.social and I for @thehousemag.bsky.social 👇 www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...

I have never seen anything as disgusting as that. Genuinely no words.

I will never forget the photo of Zelenskyy’s face after he saw Russia’s war crimes in Bucha in 2022. He seemed to age years in an afternoon. Watching him constantly cross the world asking for aid that should have been thrown at him is one of the deepest shames of our age.

Scotland & Wales have acted—England must not fall behind. We urge MPs to back the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill amendment to #EndPhysicalPunishment. (2/3)

MPs, experts & advocates met to push for a vital change: ending the legal defence that allows parents to use physical punishment on their children, also known as the “reasonable chastisement” defence, to ensure children in England have the same protection from assault. (1/3)

I know we all love a dose of hopium, especially now. But the take, which I see all across here, that the far right was defeated in Germany tonight because 80% of Germans voted for other parties is very misleading and unhelpful. Understanding this really matters. 🧵

As promised, here are the slides I shared with students to convince them to NOT use chatGPT and other artificial stupidity. TL;DR? AI is evil, unsustainable and stupid, and I'd much rather they use their own brains, make their own mistakes, and actually learn something. 🪄

The third newsletter for the CORE Programme is now out and can be accessed here - sway.cloud.microsoft/7F8Ov1FnXEdz...

In a major blow to global health, the US administration has announced plans to withdraw from the World Health Organization @who.int. @kentbuse.bsky.social and colleagues propose urgent actions for the international community to mitigate the damage www.bmj.com/content/388/...

"The study provided consistent evidence that early childhood exposure to fluoride does not have effects on cognitive neurodevelopment."

“By the time you win,no one will know you were fighting at all” Almost all public health initiatives #episky

Idiotic move, which will endanger US & global health It will make America and the world more vulnerable to future health crises As I previously said, “it is hard to think of an action more destructive to public health at home & abroad than the U.S. severing ties with the WHO” 🧵

www.uq.edu.au/news/article... Important #JDR paper from the UQ group bringing more evidence about safety of community water fluoridation.

Handy tool by @theo.io to find people you may have overlooked that people you follow are following bsky-follow-finder.theo.io

Only just found out that UCL has a subscription to the Financial Times for staff and students, just need to register for an FT Professional subscription with UCL credentials!

The article is paywalled, but (as I don’t work for the FT, I can say this), this text alone is a good reason to get the FT EDIT App. It is very cheap, and a great alternative if you can’t afford a (very expensive) FT subscription. Gives you access to 6 articles per day. Recommended.

Worried about #ElonMusk buying his way into UK politics? Think we need to take money out of our democracy? Help #DemocracyForSale's people-powered plan to #SafeguardDemocracy by taking this short survey: democracyforsale.co.uk/safeguard Please share. Thanks!

An important and concerning analysis. So many parallels with the BMJs prev analysis on the warped activities of the alcohol industry in UK schools: www.bmj.com/content/385/...

How your email finds me

“Our inclusive methodologies enabled autistic children with diverse communication needs to participate. Such methodologies improve the representation of autistic children in oral health research” This is such an important project & I’ve really enjoyed being a small part of it. #academicsky #dental

The 3rd edition of Health Inequality has kept aspects of the older two editions that @zetkin.bsky.social originally wrote & so many found to be an accessible way into understanding the complexities of health inequalities, but there are new bits too Here's a wee thread to explain what we've done 😉

We run the UCL MSc in Dental Public Health - applications for 2025/26 are open. Find out more here: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-...

🎙️Our #OralHealthMatters podcast is for everyone interested in oral health and why it matters. Listen to Richard Watt in conversation with researchers, policymakers and activists from around the world about interventions and policies that might make a difference. oral-health-matters.transistor.fm

It’s #WorldAIDSDay, time to remember the people who we have lost, reflect on how far we have progressed and what we still need to do to end the epidemic and support people living with HIV. A few thoughts as an sexual health/HIV doctor & researcher since 2008, /1

It is not an overstatement when I say that I could genuinely weep: this is 100% the *exact opposite* of what they need to do: you cannot out-Reform the Reform Party. The only thing this will do is drive more voters to Reform: voters always choose the original. *Every* bit of research shows that. 🧵

Excellent column. Unfortunately, there is no easy way back. But both sides should at least consider a customs union, and coordinate closely on security and defence. Most importantly, we need a sense of urgency. Some countries have it. Germany and the U.K. are both too complacent, in different ways.

Overcoming doubt: developing CDoH Essentials, a practical tool to introduce the commercial determinants of health, now published in the special edition of @healthpromint.bsky.social Great to work with @katherinekorner.bsky.social @maizie333.bsky.social Amy Barnes and @markpetticrew.bsky.social

Quick, quick - you've only got until 8 December to submit photos of 'Children And Parents Enjoying Recommended Portion Of Smarties' to Getty Images. Presumably this is part of Nestlé 'helping to educate kids about healthy lifestyles'... www.nestle.com/nutrition-he...

👉 Industry influence on public health policy formulation in the UK: a complex systems approach ✍️ Amber van den Akker, Alice Fabbri, Adam Bertscher, Anna Gilmore, Cecile Knai, Nick Cavill, Harry Rutter academic.oup.com/heapro/artic... #CDoH @healthpromint.bsky.social

On today's episode of @BBCRadio4 Inside health, they ask "Can supervised toothbrushing fix the children's dental crisis?" I also talk about sugar, UK Soft Drinks Industry levy & how it may expand & our findings re:children's tooth extractions www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Shocking news. 36% of UK children are living in poverty according to the latest Social Metrics Commission research (I am one of the Commissioners) www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024... Explained: what is fluoride and why is it in drinking water Balanced science reporting

Starting up over here and finding some twitter friends from dental public health, community dentistry, oral epidemiology, and evidence & policy implementation in dentistry. Please share/get in touch if you want to be added #dentistry #oralhealth go.bsky.app/4xxTxfe

Look what I finally received in the post!! A real life copy of “Health Inequality” 3rd edition that Mel @zetkin.bsky.social & I have been working on for the last 2 years! Would you be interested is a wee thread about this ed? If so, I’ll prepare one It’s a good #socialepi & social science primer

Want to do a PhD in health inequalities? The first 3 of our new Equalise Centre studentships are open for applications. Details here: www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

Please, consider.