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Karin

@beezum.bsky.social
309 followers 524 following 712 posts

Interested in health, education & fairness in society. Enjoy sport, espec. tennis, & singing

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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Amazes me that people are anti-vax yet they think nothing of using other medications. How much do we really know about weight-loss drugs?
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Incredible that this should even need saying! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
New guidelines warn against obesity drugs for young children
Care should focus on healthy eating and exercise, not medicines such as weight-loss injections, says the World Health Organization
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Just Treatment @justtreatment.org · 06/10/2026
🚨The government is looking for UK alternatives to Palantir to run the NHS data platform, the FT reports. This follows a week of protests in 40+ places across England and a rally of hundreds at Palantir's London HQ. Help keep the pressue up: nopalantirinthenhs.com
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
It's almost like putting a quack anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist in charge of the nation's health policy has consequences. "The United States has now had more measles deaths in the past two years than we have had in the previous three decades combined...": www.ms.now/news/pennsyl...
ms.now
Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak is the largest in decades in the U.S.
The state has surpassed 1,000 measles cases this year, health officials said Monday, making it the largest outbreak in the U.S. in more than three decades.
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Prof Katherine Schofield 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇪🇺 @katherineschof8.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It's that time of year again when we need to remind National Trust members that Restore Trust is a dark-money funded right-wing astroturfing entryist outfit. Please vote, and vote for literally anyone else.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Inspirational. She has made a difference. How many can say that? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Dame Esther Rantzen: Tributes paid to 'inspirational' presenter and Childline founder
Dame Esther Rantzen was "an inspirational individual", the director of her Childline helpline says.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Most politicians, including Tories have declared the Triple Lock to be unaffordable. What is proposed makes sense because good health & social care will benefit pensioners.
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TheBossRoss 🧶 @thebossross.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Quilters, immigrant rights advocates & an interfaith coalition unveiled the Stolen Neighbors #Quilt at the #Minnesota State Capitol on Tuesday to honor Minnesotans detained by federal #immigration enforcement - and advocate on their behalf." #ICE
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Possibly so, but football is the largest spectator sport & already puts huge demands on the police. Alcohol has exacerbated problems here & abroad. Not the time to change things. What is more important, the game or a pint of beer? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Burnham brands ban on football fans drinking alcohol in stands as 'discrimination'
The prime minister opposes the law - in place since 1985 - and believes there is a case to remove it.
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Good letters in The Times on Canada’s moves towards the EU. Seems we’re far happier to discuss the strategic sense of Canada rethinking its allies and trade arrangements, than we are to discuss our own not-so splendid Brexit isolation. Looking very foolish again, UK.
EU suggestion of Canadian membership

2 of the letters 

Sir, Gerard Baker is right ("Grin and bear it, Andy, and stick with Trump", comment, Sep 18)……

….The problem is that the US is neither as reliable nor as reliably friendly as it once was. If it is willing to impose tariffs on friends, that economy becomes rather less reassuring. If the US prevents the UK regulating to protect our children, those new industries are not as positively transformative as we may have thought. And if Washington no longer thinks European security is its concern, then all that military might counts for little as far as we re concerned. Ultimately, the UK has little choice but to try and limit its dependence on a partner that is far less reliable than it was, and to do so, in part, by working more closely with its European neighbours. Managing this without further irritating the US president must be the ambition.
Anand Menon
Professor of European, KCL; director, the UK in a Changing Europe

Sir, Mark Carney's address to the European parliament was
extraordinarily impressive. It was a vision of what politics can be when it looks beyond the next poll, election or headline. Carney spoke of Europe and Canada building something together based on democracy, freedom, sovereignty and resilience. He offered both a dream and a practical route towards it: co-operation in defence. energy, critical minerals, technology, Al, trade and education. What struck me most was the clarity and scale of his thinking. He spoke of the challenges confronting western democracies but did not simply complain about them: he asked what could be built in response.
His metaphor of the forest was particularly memorable: a single tree mav be brought down by the storm. but a forest will endure because its roots are interconnected. I am 80 and I cannot remember recently hearing a western political leader speak with quite this combination of ambition, seriousness and intellectual clarity.
Thomas Kendall
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Frankly, there is more to worry about in the world than what the King said or did not say to Charles Spencer 30 years ago!
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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 15/09/2026
We can't let Trump's America become Farage's Britain. The Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to go further in tackling crypto billionaires getting into our politics. @lisasmartmp.bsky.social
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
We didn’t understand the power of social media & we don’t understand the power of AI. Dangerous times, but Donald says it’s OK, so that’s alright then!
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Does he really think such large donations by 2 individuals to any political party are a good idea?
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The question #BBCLauraK didn’t ask #Jenrick yesterday was whether he thinks large donations might buy influence? Do we really want oligarchs in the driving seat?
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Richard Corbett CBE @richardcorbett.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Across Europe, far right political parties are getting money and help from: - crypto and tech billionaires - MAGA - the US ultra Christian right - Putin’s Russia We need to defend democracy with robust funding rules and digital safeguards
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Imo, mostly due to lack of resource, people generally are kept on drugs without expert review. Particularly true of older generations
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Tanita Tikaram @tanitatikaram.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
What I love about Western democracy is you can bung a political party £ 36 million earned from criminal activity & most media will continue to point at asylum seekers & migrant care workers with families as the barbarians at the gate we need to defend ourselves from 🙄.
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Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 @brexitbin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Here's a French video (with English subtitles) about what would happen if the far-right racists got their way and all foreigners and people of colour were forced to leave.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
If you would like to add your voice to tens of thousands of people thanking RNLI volunteers for their work, 38 Degrees have organised this open letter to express public support (at a time when a hateful fringe have been intimidating & abusing RNLI volunteers) act.38degrees.org.uk/act/rnli-tha...
act.38degrees.org.uk
An open letter in support of the volunteers and staff at the RNLI
This is a disgrace. Brave RNLI volunteers being called scum for risking their lives to save others at sea is just plain wrong. So I've signed an open letter of thanks for the RNLI letting them know th...
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
What an arrogantly vile man Harborne is. How patronising to describe his entitled buying up of our democracy as ‘philanthropy’. Get over yourself and go and build some hospitals, fund children out of poverty, eradicate disease… Sticking your grubby wealth in Farage’s pockets can only do us harm.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Excellent crossing #Guernsey to #Poole #BrittanyFerries Well on time. However, can someone spare a thought for foot passengers wanting to get to the railway station? No shuttle, taxis have to be booked, & poor signage if you are walking. Thank goodness “the natives are friendly”!
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Dr Jo Kershaw @mthrjo.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The RNLI have some of the best people in Britain volunteering for them. They put their lives on the line when they are called on and they will rescue anyone who needs them. Because every life matters, and offering help is the right thing to do. You can donate here: rnli.org
rnli.org
RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution - Saving Lives at Sea
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. We do this through lifeboat search and rescue, lifeguards, water safety education and international interventions.
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The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 04/09/2026
Parton’s generous scheme has provided millions of free books to children around the world, helping to foster a love of reading that can set youngsters up for life.
theconversation.com
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: what its success means for children’s reading
Parton’s generous scheme has provided millions of free books to children around the world, helping to foster a love of reading that can set youngsters up for life.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The safety of children has to take priority but the fact that this should be necessary shocked me today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Schools to close early for A66 crash funeral
The funeral of one of five young men killed in the crash with a police car is due to take place.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
This is laughable. “People who hold positions of power, influence and money” & would-be leaders ie him & his party should be open to scrutiny & should expect complaints. New kids on the block should expect to prove their credibility! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Reform up against 'complainants' society', Nigel Farage tells BBC
The Reform UK leader said a "whole ecosystem" didn't want "new kids on the block succeeding".
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Have just finished this. I thought a difficult subject was handled well & I got a real sense of American attitudes to women & the Vietnam war. However, I am not sure it works as an audiobook - mainly because I didn’t like the male voice representation.
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Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Senile Satan: “I’m signing an Executive Order that changes the name of German Measles to American Measles.” 🇺🇸
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
#Cleverly is waffling. It is pretty obvious to most, with or without research, that the restriction of older, polluting cars has to be beneficial to the health of all Londoners! #BBCRadio4
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Hillary Rodham Clinton @hillaryclinton.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dolly Parton did all the good she could, for all the people she could, for as long as ever she could. From her legendary songwriting to the Imagination Library—which sent 1 million books a month to children across the country—she was the best of America. Dolly, we'll miss your great heart.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I am tired of reading “news” about Harry & Meghan. Please let’s have some proper news!
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Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀 @mackayim.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Between two Japanese islands a tidal turbine on the seabed is sending 1.1 megawatts ashore through a single cable, and every hour it will generate for the next decade is already printed on a chart. www.ecoportal.net/en/tidal-tur...
ecoportal.net
Between two Japanese islands a tidal turbine on the seabed is sending 1.1 megawatts ashore through a single cable, and every hour it will generate for the next decade is already printed on a chart
The tidal turbine sits on a gravity base, held by its own weight rather than by piles driven into rock. Nothing is hammered in and nothing is anchored,
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Queen Mary University of London @qmul.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Air pollution stunts children’s lung growth. New Queen Mary research found that improvements in air quality after the introduction of London’s ULEZ are associated with accelerated lung growth in children. Read more: shorturl.at/Jx86o
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Clean air is important for health. How can people be so dismissive of ULEZ? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Children's stunted lungs show recovery in ultra low emission zone
Children's lung capacity caught up with their peers in less polluted areas once a clean air zone came in, a study shows.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Just find it really sad that Jason Arday has been driven to such lengths. His poor family. When did the world become so cruel & so devoid of humanity?
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Who would have thought #CountBinface would get over 9000 votes in a by-election? #Clacton As for #Farage not turning up for the declaration, well he started the farce & should own it!
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Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
This is SUCH important research. Many vaccines require storage at cold or ultra-cold temperatures which limits shelf-life once thawed AND is exceptionally challenging in shipping vaccines and for resource poor countries. This research shows potential for dried vaccines that don't need cold storage!
bbc.co.uk
Half of vaccines are binned - this plant could change that
Scientists have kept vaccines stable at room temperature for a year, which could transform global vaccination.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Will not mourn her departure but no-one can deny that she has done an excellent, tho’ misguided job for #Trump
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Best crab sandwich to date, L’Ancresse Kiosk, #Guernsey
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Cobo, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Nowhere better to be on a hot summer’s evening.
Picture of Cobo, a beach in Guernsey, Channel islands, at sunsetA sunset at Cobo
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Well, in Kent, in the 1960s it used to happen at 11 with a tripartite system!
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Dr Zubaida Haque @zubhaque.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
But it was never simply a question of “should schools be open or shut?” during the pandemic. The key question pre‑vaccine was: were schools safe enough to be open - for teachers, vulnerable children and whole communities – given the wholly inadequate mitigations the Johnson government put in place.
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Laura Phillips @lauraphillips.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Sir #DavidAttenborough “Things are going to get worse. This is the new extinction. We are in terrible, terrible trouble and the longer we wait to do something about it, the worse it is going to get." #ClimateEmergency
vox.com
David Attenborough, the voice of Our Planet: “Things are going to get worse”
The voice of some of the most stunning nature documentaries ever made is pessimistic about the future of wildlife on earth.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight fire
As Europe faces its worst wildfires in decades, Australia offers lessons in disaster preparedness.
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Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
🧵On @thenewsagents.co.uk yesterday, school closures and the lab leak theory were offered as two examples of legitimate questions that were hard to ask. Both have in fact been asked constantly since 2020. But here's a thread on why I think they were wrong and dangerous on school closures 1/12
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
With the arrival of a novel virus it was absolutely right to follow that expertise. In a time of crisis you have to trust experts & there is no time to wait for evidence!
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Labour's Bev Craig elected new mayor of Greater Manchester
Labour's Bev Craig secures nearly double the number of votes won by Reform UK's Sian Astley.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
One thing I find quite refreshing is that no-one knew what #Burnham’s choice of Cabinet was until it was announced by his office. More of this please.
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Karin @beezum.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
This is a travesty.
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Howard Goodall @howardgoodall.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
In an angry, divided world, this is a great image from last night's France-England game 👏
England and France players embracing at the end of a 10-goal World Cup football game for 3rd place
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