later, could be too late 🤔

Today, Hatem Rayyan, a Palestinian paramedic who was abducted from Kamal Odwan Hospital on December 27, 2024, died in an Israeli prison. Rayyan was abducted from the same hospital and on the same day as Dr. Hussam Abu Safiyya.

Very cool to hear that my public health book is being put as core reading on university reading lists like Imperial College, London- the paperback is out soon (April 2026) which will make it more accessible -

This is huge. The ban & proscription on Palestine Action was unlawful - though remains for now, pending appeal. It set a terrifying precedent. Because of course this isn’t terrorism. Nor are signs being held up peacefully to support them. Proud to know people there today, far braver than I am now.

Kyiv. I love this pulse of life, this scent of books. Yes, we’re living through a very hard winter, but we will get through it.

Extraordinary this … & a lovely read. @tomallanwriter.bsky.social

Good grief

For anyone who knows/is a prospective PhD student seeking funding... My lovely colleagues Prof Gill Plain & James Purdon have a fully-funded scholarship in English, on fiction/film 1945-65 imagining outbound UK-Commonwealth migration: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/fees-a... Deadline 27 Feb.

As ever, lovely writing here. Old ruined farm buildings are like a magnet for me. So many round here on the Trust Estates.If you haven’t read the Guardian Country Diary for 4th Feb do seek it out - it’s a gem.

Another round of peace talks took place tonight. The results are on the map. Rocket and drone explosions in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and many other cities all night. In the morning, electricity and heat were out in many areas.

A safe, secure and prosperous Arctic is a global common good. It’s up to us to make that happen. That is what the EU will work for, together with the Arctic nations. Extract of my speech at the Arctic Frontiers Conference ↓

In case you missed @amyjanebeer.bsky.social very moving Country Diary last week, on the gift of birds following her beloved sister's untimely death; do have a read, its beautiful. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

That’s great

Kyiv is in total blackout, as are many parts of Ukraine. No water, no heating, no electricity. Severe frost outside. This is the result of constant russian attacks. Thank you to those few who still care.

ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...

Appeasing landlords. Decent homes standard for England’s private renters will not be enforced until 2035. Millions of renters are stuck paying hand over fist for shoddy homes that pose a real danger to their health. Govts put profits before people.

As my visionary friend @helenb92.bsky.social put it the other day, these are the only live streams we need

The new issue of Prospect.. no paywall until Monday!

Positive action

Great news from Scotland: a LAW to ensure new buildings have swift bricks. (Contrary to Labour spin, there is no law and no guarantees that builders or planners will incorporate bricks in England.) www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Monday evening in Kyiv. Power is back after nine hours. Everything is carefully charging. The news speaks of attacks on Kharkiv and Kryvyi Rih. Endless January is taking a windy stroll outside.

Overjoyed to be hearing Jackie Morris & @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social discussing the magnificent Book of Birds in May in Oxford. Avocets, yellowhammers, dippers, dunnocks, kestrels, kingfishers… I cannot wait to hear Jackie & Robert sing their marvellous praises. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jackie-mor...

Catch this if you can…uplifting no doubt!

Huge mistake’: Labour in turmoil as Burnham blocked from byelection race. Under Starmer everything is centralised. Local party emasculated, candidates parachuted by hierarchy. Conference resolutions ignored, unions alienated, left purged, poor policies.

Wow! People the wonder…cure..

With the wonderful @janerushtonart.bsky.social talking, walking, wandering, wondering and enjoying her magical home, this beautiful place.

Such a place.

Sigh, Europe needs to give Ukraine more shells, more missiles, more everything..they are our frontline for heavens sake, get off the damned fence.

The word for this year has been unpredictability. This is what we are living through. But right now, it is important to focus back our efforts on stopping the war in Ukraine. Russia is increasing its attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, amid a particularly hard winter.

Brilliant. Social justice, environmental justice, slow down, breathe, watch, have a think …

"Standing up to Trump offers no guarantee of success. Submission, on the other hand, is certain to fail." Edward Luce in the FT today. www.ft.com/content/dede...

Sinister, & sinister. ICE also arresting Oglala Sioux people, & reportedly holding them at Fort Snelling, used to imprison & remove Indigenous people in 1862. ‘The irony is not lost on us’ Tribe President, Frank Star Comes Out.

That’s the ticket..

After wet days, a whole tree can fit in a puddle.

Worth reading…always

Greetings from Kyiv and warcoffee. It’s -11 °C outside. No electricity at home (hard to predict when it’ll be back – there are no schedules now). But I had a few hours of power last night to do everything. Life goes on.

If you’re in Minneapolis and need a place to just BE right now, Big Hill Books and Birchbark Books & Native Arts are both open and ready to welcome you with open arms.

What should the world do about Trump's attack on Venezuela, threats to other countries? The UK hasn't condemned the attack; obeys Trump; won't call for sanctions imposed on other states for violating the UN charter. The era of gangster states is with us. Watch the Minister's reply

Very Snowy in #Shetland #snow

One of the key moments of 2025: Our planet has hit its first climate tipping point open.substack.com/pub/weareoce...

A Shopgirl at Christmas. New post on Substack & my blog & something a little different. The Shopping Mall of my youth is going to be housing. Here’s what working in Our Price & Debenhams in the Wonderbra era taught me… links in bio or here nicolachester.com/2025/12/30/a...