Some toadies, vastly weathy men, a man many believe is guilty of war crimes and all chaired by a potentate who wants to annex greenland from an ally. To say that Gaza deserves better is a massive, unbearable understatement.

We could start to end this famine tomorrow. All it requires is aid access which Israel is preventing.

Secondments of FCDO staff to Shell or BAE is absolutely bonkers and shouldn't be tolerated. We need to enhance business regulation to protect human rights and the environment not to enhance corporate capture of govt functions. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Ah here. Half of Belfast has signs up supporting various proscribed organisations. I can walk out my door and go find some proscribed organisation flags quite handy. This is about suppressing the right to protest. BBC News - Woman released after Belfast protest arrest www.bbc.com/news/article...

And I'm an elite athlete... ... oh sorry, we're not saying things that are patently false? BBC News - International law 'at heart' of Starmer's foreign policy, says Hermer www.bbc.com/news/article...

Great book by @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social supporting an age old proposition; that a more equal distribution if wealth is better for all of us.

This day next week, the music event of the year, right here in Belfast🎵 #sing4stroke Sign up here forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Fulmars and their dreams on Rathlin

For 77 years, the Palestinian people have endured apartheid, dispossession, and displacement at the hands of the State of Israel. This Nakba Day, we call on the international community to fulfil its obligations under international law and end Israel’s occupation and control over 🇵🇸 land and lives.

Loved being at the @trocaire.bsky.social Game Changers finals today, so inspiring to tall to students about their games and how they chose to highlight different global justice issues!

A grand day for this sort of thing

Looking forward to listening to this on @rteradio1.bsky.social on my walk home today. It was a privilege to meet members of the Xinka Parliament a @trocaire.bsky.social partner from Guatemala last year and hear about their ongoing struggle for their ancestral lands.

Annexing the land of another state by force is a war crime. Starving a civilian population is a war crime. Targeting medical personnel is a war crime. By any other criteria Israel should be a pariah state by now but still there is no stop to the suffering for Gaza.

The tangerine buffoon would probably have the gall to take the name Innocent as well... BBC News - Trump criticised after posting AI image of himself as Pope www.bbc.com/news/article...

Horrifying to see the level of investment still going into fossil fuels. We need to endorse a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to commit countries to a fair and funded phase out now. Read the report from @trocaire.bsky.social and @actionaidie.bsky.social here: www.trocaire.org/wp-content/u...

Really recommend taking 20mins to watch this fantastic documentary. What stands out is the strength and resilience of the stroke survivors involved. The documentary is clear that we can't wait any longer for a 24/7 thrombectomy service. www.stroke.org.uk/northern-ire...

Really enjoyed stopping in at the exhibition of Bill Kirk's photos in the Ulster Museum today.

Currently I'm reading a book about the siege of Leningrad. Utterly horrifying to think that 80 years later hunger is still being used as a weapon of war against civilians in Gaza and Sudan.

Fair play to Annalise Dodds for taking a principled stand on the awful UK cuts to ODA, hopefully the PM can now recognise the huge negative impact this decision will have. BBC News - International Development minister quits over aid cuts www.bbc.com/news/article...

Cutting aid funding to support defence spending is like taking bricks from the foundations to make your house higher. Supporting the most vulnerable and helping build stable, prosperous societies around the globe is a far better investment than more guns. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Data centres are very hungry for energy with their power demands increasing all the time. Learn more about our Data Centre campaign here 👇 www.friendsoftheearth.ie/data-centres/

A harrowing article about the impact of one of the world's wealthiest nations cutting aid to a fragile, climate affected state in the global south. ODA makes a huge positive impact, removing it costs lives. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Excellent train ride listening to Pillow Queens and reading Olga Tokarczuk!

A greater focus on oil and gas in order to drive BP profits. When are we going to prioritise the lives of the many over the short term profits of the few? #climatejusticenow BBC News - BP profits drop as it says it will reset strategy - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

My colleague Nick gave a great interview to Highland Radio earlier this week about climate justice and an event taking place in Letterkenny tonight. You can listen from 2:06:00. www.youtube.com/live/HAY39vY...

Recently I met Trócaire partners whose communities and land have been damaged and marginalised by mining and heard them talk with Save our Sperrins. Environmental justice and ethical business is important across the glove. I hope this inquiry recognises that. www.rte.ie/news/busines...

I can confirm to any interested parties that the ice on the Orangefield pond is not thick enough to support the weight of a somewhat hefty man.

Saw this lovely postcard in our house again today. It says 'In the darkness of the night, new beginnings are born'. An apposite thought for the time of year.

No better way to start the New Year than with the always magical New Year's Day Concert from Vienna. Happily clapping along to the Radetsky March on my sofa.

Ballynoe stone circle on the shortest day. Who needs stonehenge!

Human rights abuses - tick Funded by petro dollars - tick Boiling temperatures - tick A local football league that collects aging football stars like butterflies on pins - tick All the ingredients for a great world cup... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Great to see a ban on fracking and all onshore petroleum exploration and production in place for NI! BBC News - Fracking ban confirmed by Stormont www.bbc.com/news/article...

Trócaire with QUB are looking forward to hosting this event on Monday coming as part of NI Human Rights Festival. Featuring speakers from both Guatemala and the ever exotic Tyrone it'll be an interesting look at business, human rights and the environment. www.nihrf.com/events/commu...

A great article from Cat Pettengell of CAN UK on what the outcomes of #COP29 were and why they are so disappointing. www.bond.org.uk/news/2024/11...

Is $300bn a year better than $100bn a year? Yes. Is it enough? Nope. Is it fair? Not remotely. Another big test is going to be whether or not rich nations actually deliver these commitments made at #COP29 ...

Marking COP 29 by symbolically dismantling some fossil fuel infrastructure... chimney no more!

Always lovely to wake up and see the hills over Belfast dusted in snow.