Reposted by Alastair McKinstryEnvironmental Pillar @envpillar.bsky.social · 08/10/2026No extra funding for nature, carbon tax U-turn – the Government is clearly walking away from its climate, nature & energy security commitments in Budget 2027. Great to see coverage of our reaction to Budget 2027 15828
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryClimate Change Advisory Council Ireland @ccacireland.bsky.social · 12hWhat does Ireland need to do to become more climate resilient? The Council has identified four priorities: 1. Prepare for a wider range of extremes 2. Properly cost adaptation 3. Accelerate flood protection 4. Strengthen community preparedness and recovery. Read more: shorturl.at/B4kAc 054
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryEarly Childhood Ireland @earlychildhoodireland.ie · 9hEven though some of the measures announced by the Government this week are welcome for children and families, Budget 2027 failed to recognise the crucial role of the workforce in delivering high-quality Early Years and School Age Care. These are some of the announcements made on Tuesday: 001
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryGlen Peters @glenpeters.bsky.social · 22hA very notable thing about this graph is that it is not a long list of developed countries. Developing countries also list high on the list, well above the EU average (and long above the US). EVs are better than ICE, people are noticing, and the transition is happening... 59637
Reposted by Alastair McKinstrySimon McGarr @tupped.bsky.social · 17hThis is an inexplicable vote by Regina Doherty, Nina Carberry, Seán Kelly Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher Ciaran Mullooly 119944
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryJosh Zingher @zingherpolisci.bsky.social · 07/10/2026As a broader point, the Administration is war with data collection. The goal is simple: you can't prove racial discrimination in court if the government doesn't collect data by race. You can't show climate change if the government dismantles climate monitoring. This is Authoritarianism 101. 13517
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryCarl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 07/10/2026Terry Tao @teorth.bsky.social: Indiscriminate brute-force application of AI to mathematics is depleting the field of good questions without renewing this resource or providing commensurate value. OpenAI: We hear you. Here's a .zip file with 377 hasty AI solutions to important open problems.nytimes.comOpenAI Releases Findings on 377 Math Problems, Further Roiling Field (Gift Article)After a previous solution angered mathematicians, the company characterized the new release as being more responsive to concerns about A.I. disrupting research. 19418121
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryShade 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇮🇪🦄💙📚🎃 @sharrow.eurosky.social · 06/10/2026Then why are we not future proofing with solar farms and 100% grants for solar at home and heat pumps? 27123
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryRay Cunningham @ray-cunningham.bsky.social · 06/10/2026The government is throwing money at fossil fuels, and spending a pittance on breaking our dependency on fossil fuels. Storing up problems for the future 1103
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryFeljin Jose @feljin.ie · 06/10/2026Ok but my fares are going up by €300 17224
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryDaithi @daithig.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Apologies to some journalists, but anytime I see something like "Minister X secured an extra amount for this", I just keep thinking "you're not their PR, you can write that differently". 0177
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryRoderic O’Gorman TD @rodericogorman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Having written off 4 years of carbon tax revenue (and no indication yet how that hole will be filled) the Tanaiste spends a section of his speech talking about how important energy transition is to his Government. But what the the measures he is actually announcing? 13717
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryThe Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 06/10/2026“The loss of biodiversity and ecosystem collapse is a threat to our national security. This is central to what Greens are campaigning around across the country.” Adrian Ramsay speaking ahead of his panel - When Nature Fails: The Defence and Security Case for Climate Resilience - at Conference. 613954
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryJason Kint @kint.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Eye popping. Court just unsealed Summary Judgment motions in New York Times v OpenAI / Microsoft. Easy to see why the AI companies had so many redactions (pink). Their own people wrote the lede for NYT, the "largest theft of labor in human history"... "more and more substitutive..." /1 4253902351
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryAn Taisce @antaisce.bsky.social · 04/10/2026An Taisce is also calling for greater support for public transport, including Leap card credits and a reversal of the recent increase in general transport fares. extra.ie/2026/10/03/n...extra.ieAn Taisce calls for fuel supports for those in need and at risk of fuel povertyAn Taisce has warned that Ireland is subsidising fossil fuel use at up to five times the EU average. 03113
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryDarren Dahly @statsepi.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Looking forward to seeing my fellow IFUT members today on the quad for a one hour work stoppage in pursuit of a credible pay proposition from government. www.ifut.ie/content/ifut... 081
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryElizabeth Boyle @thecelticist.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Members @ifut.bsky.social staged a 1-hour walkout today at Maynooth as part of the Irish public sector pay dispute. Grateful also to the Postgraduate Workers' Organisation for their support. Solidarity with our colleagues in other unions who have begun working to contract. Power to the people! ✊️ 03011
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryGylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Just giving this a bump after the Green Party resolution about "Zionism is Racist". TL:DW: three prominent Jewish people in UK discuss their anti-zionist views. 032
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryThe Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 05/10/2026Replacing beef farming with forestry would boost incomes and help meet climate goalsirishtimes.comReplacing beef farming with forestry would boost incomes and help meet climate goalsAfforestation is the most significant climate change mitigation option available to Ireland’s land use sector 086
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryCarol Ballantine @cballantine.bsky.social · 04/10/2026This is written to fly under the radar, from today’s Sunday Independent (Ireland). The press council upheld a complaint about an offensive and transphobic opinion column by Brenda Power. Sindo was required to publish the decision. @mams4transrights.bsky.social @jesalady.bsky.social 413595
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryThe Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 03/10/2026Ireland is the last stand for rare coastal machair habitats in the EU – but it’s failingirishtimes.comIreland is the last stand for rare coastal machair habitats in the EU – but it’s failingFunding nature restoration looks like an easy line to leave blank in the budget. That would be an expensive mistake 13411
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryAlex Pigot @alexpigotireland.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Noeline Blackwell is an amazingly good and brilliant person 👏👏👏👏👏 011
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryCarla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 04/10/2026The ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion has passed at Green Party conference. While there are many parts of the motion I can agree with, there are some that I could not, so I did not vote for it. Here is a joint statement from the Green Party leadership team and all of us Green MPs: 1815440
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryCharles Keener @charleskeener.bsky.social · 04/10/2026www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...dailykos.comWe can police ourselves!A cartoon by David Horsey. 043
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryGeorge Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 03/10/2026“He’s gotta resign. … We have to let our own people and everybody else know why it had to be done—because of what’s on the tape, because he lied.” — White House speechwriter Patrick J. Buchanan to White House chief of staff Alexander M. Haig, August 2, 1974 47944781285
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryOisín McGann @oisinmcgann.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Look, these people are just operating to different standards. 1113
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryDavid Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 03/10/2026I don’t think everyone realizes how bad things are for US science: For the fiscal year that just ended, the Trump regime withheld $1.4 billion from the National Science Foundation’s research budget, which is about 1/5 of its primary research budget.nytimes.comNational Science Foundation Diverted $1.4 Billion in Science Funds Mandated by Congress (Gift Article)The move, affecting about one-fifth of the National Science Foundation’s primary research budget, is the latest sign of how the White House is asserting more control over grants. 201843914
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryM Meerkat @kackbro.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Naomi Klein Is Spot On....... 15787813406
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryHydrologyNL @hydrology.nl · 01/10/2026Glacial degradation in Switzerland reached an unprecedented threshold this summer with the formation of a supraglacial lake near the Allalinhorn summit (4,027 m). Cryospheric data since 2000 highlights the acceleration: 📉 -5% ice volume in 1 year 📉 -20% in 5 years 📉 -43% total loss since 2000 247
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryDr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 29/09/2026Huge congratulations to our colleagues at @iccl.bsky.social on this win! In a landmark ruling on 25 Sep, the ICCL secured a precedent that will reshape how Big Tech companies defend themselves in GDPR class actions that impact their operations across the entire EU enforce.ie/digital-data...enforce.ieICCL secures landmark precedent against Big Tech - EnforceLandmark ruling will reshape how Big Tech companies defend themselves in court for EU-wide GDPR class actions 16232
Alastair McKinstry @amckinstry.bsky.social · 28/09/2026It works in reality in cases where you have a limited number of actual likely possibilities - what object are you looking at from space in a forest, for example. But not when picking from a large set like human faces. You need to know what you're/its doing. 040
Reposted by Alastair McKinstrySaul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 27/09/2026One from the archives In 1984 Dunnes shop worker Mary Manning refused to handle South African goods & was backed by her shop steward, Karen Gearon. Both were suspended. 9 colleagues came out in support. The strike lasted 3yrs & forced the Irish govt to ban the import of all SA goods. All heroes 392315664
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryPádraic Fogarty @whittledaway.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Sometimes I think we're making progress in our attitudes to nature, and then I read an article like this which reminds me that we haven't moved on much at all 😒 www.westmeathindependent.ie/2026/09/25/s...westmeathindependent.ieSilt removal will help river flow – ‘Boxer’ | Westmeath IndependentThe removal of 1,100 tonnes of silt upstream of Lough Derg, between Banagher and Victoria Lock, will be of "enormous benefit" to an improved flow of the River Shannon, local OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer'... 64515
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryColin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Another one of the days when most of NI is holding its breath and the national news outlets in London have barely registered that anything has happened. 59624
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryCharles Keener @charleskeener.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Amnesty International, the world's largest human-rights group, is explicitly calling for ICE to be abolished. 1206
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryJohn Fugelsang @johnfugelsang.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Streisand Effect, Activate. 32927332
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryDonncha O’Connell @donnchalaw.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Staff at the University of Galway are set to begin industrial action next month following an overwhelming vote by members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT ) in favour of action up to and including strike action. www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...advertiser.ieUniversity of Galway staff to begin industrial action on World Teachers’ DayStaff at the University of Galway are set to begin industrial action next month following an overwhelming vote by members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT ) in favour of action up ... 031
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryAlan Dunne @aldunne.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026the unions know the score 084
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryAbilu Tangwa. @abilutangwa.bsky.social · 26/09/2026When farms stop yielding, hunger does not knock — it breaks the door. Across the Horn of Africa, soils that once fed nations are turning barren. This is not “bad weather.” This is climate change rewriting our food systems in real time. 6020551028
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryCosáin Climate @cosaingalway.bsky.social · 26/09/2026In 2016, Galway City Council recorded data from several passive radar "Driver Awareness Signs". The limited amount of data was obtained under FOI. They never publicised the information and never repeated the exercise. No journalist ever proactively wrote a news report featuring the word "notorious". 143
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryDaryl 𝘊𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘩𝘶𝘪𝘮𝘤í𝘯 🎃 Feehely @darylfeehely.com · 26/09/2026A nation lets out a collective FFS 😫 Somehow, the FAI have made this even worse. Gavin Bazunu, hold your head high. I'm sure the black arm bands will bring solice to Natalie Abudayyeh as she rots in an Israeli jail for no reason other than playing for her country. #StopTheGame #Speirgorm 0325
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryNiamh NicGhabhann Coleman @niamhroisin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Courage to the players, who should not be in this position 🇵🇸 🇮🇪 219635
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryEd Maibach @handle.invalid · 25/09/2026Happy Stanislav Petrov Day He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.” If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it. @gchalliance.bsky.social @docsforclimate.bsky.socialsammatey.substack.comHappy Stanislav Petrov DayTake five minutes to not destroy civilization 252124938
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryAarne Granlund @aarnegranlund.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026”Net annual CO₂ emissions increase by 0.47–1.8 gigatonnes (1.2–4.8% of 2024 global energy-related CO₂ emissions).” AI seems to be like SUVs and compounding aviation growth, continuing the high supply and demand of fossil fuels. #AI #Growth #ClimateHeating www.nature.com/articles/s44...nature.comAI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model - npj Climate Actionnpj Climate Action - AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model 02110
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryOla Løkken Nordrum @olaln.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Head-in-the-sand stuff from RTE. “Exceptional weather” = means months of climate-change-driven heatwaves, but somehow RTE seems baffled that trolley numbers are high. Extreme heat doesn’t stop being dangerous because we call it a “great summer”. This is climate denial by euphemism.rte.ieWhat will this winter trolley season bring?On any given day, there remain hundreds of patents waiting for admission to a hospital bed, placed on a trolley, chair, or other area of a hospital. 0124
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryKatie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 25/09/2026I have blamed The agents That hacked Your website And which You probably Reasonably thought I controlled Forgive me I am rich And unaccustomed To taking responsibility 5776522128
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryGrant Hamilton 🐨 @ecologygrant.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Too true. There are two existential threats to humanity (ignoring the AI BS for now)- the #biodiversity crisis AND climate change. Very few people I speak with outside of academia, or directly involved with ENGOs, know about the biodiversity crisis 🧪 196
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryAlexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026That's because the anti-intellectualism of the populists and Far Right is in direct contradiction to the basic foundations of any civilisation 523708645
Reposted by Alastair McKinstryJustin Mason @jmason.org · 25/09/2026www.reddit.com/r/JustEatUK/... - hilariously bad failures from a US-default parser encountering the concept of soda breadreddit.comFrom the JustEatUK community on Reddit: AI vs Soda BreadExplore this post and more from the JustEatUK community 021