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Ben Crystall

@bencrystall.bsky.social
824 followers 840 following 120 posts

💚Green cllr & leader of East Herts District Council, and cllr at Hertford Town and Hertfordshire County Council. Former New Scientist journo. Promoted by Alex Daar for Ben Crystall, both at East Herts Green Party c/o 55 Ware High St Ware SG12 9BA 🇵🇸 RLS

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Reposted by Ben Crystall
Drew Waller-Downes @drewwallerdownes.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I grew up in Kingsmead, attending Wheatcroft School and spending my childhood exploring our green spaces. Now, I'm proud to be raising a family here. I will work hard to work with you all to continue to build a community we can all be proud of. @easthertsgreens.bsky.social
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Leaflets being delivered for Drew Waller-Downes, Hertford Kingsmead by-election. Always nice to knock on a door and hear people say they are definitely voting Green. Vote for Drew Waller-Downes on Thursday 22nd October. @drewwallerdownes.bsky.social
Green candidate Drew Waller-Downes with campaign leaflets
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Vote for George Parkes in the Ware Christchurch by-election on Thursday 24th September. George will join a hardworking team that is delivering real results for Ware. Artwork here by local artist Ana Olarou who also decorated benches along the tow path between Ware and Hertford.
Some examples showing how Green Ware Town Council delivers real results for residents
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The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 28/08/2026
🎉 A historic win in Dover! We have gained Guston, Kingsdown & St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe from the Conservatives, beating Reform in second place. The Greens can take the fight to Reform and win! 💚
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Birmingham Green Party @brumgreens.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
The same government that is warning us to stock up on tinned food due to potential extreme weather events exacerbated by #ClimateChange is also the same government thinking about approving the #Rosebank oilfield. Just insanity. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
UK to warn citizens to stock up on food amid threat from climate crisis and hostile states
Government resilience campaign aims to ensure people can cope in a national disaster, in order to free resources for most vulnerable
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Delighted to attend the opening of Buntingford’s Mens Shed - huge congratulations to cllr Phil Ricketts @buntymenshed.bsky.social and trustee Roy Ballam and all the others involved in getting it literally out of the ground in just a year or so! Amazing work! Delicious tea and cake too! 💚💚
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
It beggars belief that there have been more than 1,000 wildfires already this summer, but an emergency alert has only now been issued www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cm...
bbc.co.uk
Millions sent wildfire emergency phone alert warning against "any activity that could start a fire" - follow live
It comes as crews continue to battle multiple blazes in the West Midlands - PM Andy Burnham earlier warned the country is like a "tinderbox".
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 15/08/2026
The Great Stink of 2026? Hot, dry summer leaves London holding its nose
theguardian.com
The Great Stink of 2026? Hot, dry summer leaves London holding its nose
Experts say putrid stench shows overhaul of sewers is needed – like the one prompted by the Great Stink of 1858
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
#ClimateEmergency - this is just the start "The probability that a single month in early 2027 passes 2C has reached 35% to 40%" www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
El Niño May Push Global Warming to 2C or Higher in the Short Term
There’s a 35% chance that the average temperature will hit 2C above pre-industrial levels for one month next year, projections show.
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Councillor Rachel Carter calling on Hertfordshire County Council to take urgent action to prepare communities, public services and infrastructure for increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves. democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
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Adrian Ramsay @adrianramsay.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The NFU is right. This is the new climate reality. It doesn't matter whether people believe it's climate change. It won't care when we run out of water, food costs rocket & wildfires spread. We need a Climate Adaptation Minister to lead cross-govt action www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Half of England in drought as farmers warn food prices could soar
Producing crops becoming harder and more expensive and prices could rise, farmers warn
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Come on Science and Technology Facilities Council - Jodrell Bank hosts one of the most important radio telescopes in Europe. You cannot close this facility without diminishing our nation’s ability for cutting edge science. You must rethink this dire decision.
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Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf @rahmstorf.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Time lapse.
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Thanks to all who came out litter picking around Hartham and Bengeo yesterday! And thanks to the lady I met this morning in The Warren picking up the litter from along the path 💚💚
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Tim Bradford scores a bullseye in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social Climate action versus the buts
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Surprise, surprise - millionaires can afford to pay some more tax, and they're not threatening to leave the country
bbc.co.uk
Gary Lineker among millionaires asking Andy Burnham to tax them more
A group including the former England footballer write to the new PM telling him "we can afford it".
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Another Green @anothergreen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
If you are a Unite member and want more climate action (not less), look out for the ballot paper which should arrive in the next couple of days. Sharon Graham has argued for more drilling in the North Sea and briefed against Ed Miliband because of his work on net zero. Time to dump Sharon!
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Andy Burge 🇬🇧🇪🇺 @andygjburge.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
This is a poll being run by the Daily Heil!!!!
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Poster promoting Count Binface, in the famous Obama style
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Russell England @russellengland.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
So, there is a precedent for vetoing an MP's resignation Viscount Chelsea (Henry Cadogan) applied for the Chiltern Hundreds in 1842 The Chancellor (Goulburn) refused because, get this, Cadogan wanted to resign to obstruct an investigation for bribery h/t @fascinatorfun.bsky.social and @gazhay.com
Screenshot from the linked article, with the following text highlighted

"The noble Lord had stated, that it was unusual to refuse the Chiltern Hundreds, except on account of mental incapacity, or where proceedings were pending for the expulsion of the applicants from their seats. In this case, however, the House had decided that compromises had been entered into, which had the effect of obstructing the investigation of bribery; "
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Good news: We can tell you how much the globe will warm if we continue to burn fossil fuels and emit CO₂ at an alarming rate. Bad news: We’re terrible at telling you how bad the impacts will be, and they’re consistently worse than we predicted.
bloomberg.com
Extreme Heat Stuns Even Climate Scientists Who Saw It Coming
Record-breaking heat waves are even stunning scientists monitoring the acceleration of climate change.
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Chris Meder @evcurvefuturist.com · 03/07/2026
China's PM2.5 pollution fell by roughly 60% since 2013, one of the largest & fastest air-quality improvements ever recorded by a major industrial economy. What's remarkable is that it happened while China continued growing, industrialising & expanding electricity generation. #Bettrification #SWB
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Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
It’s National Meadows Day! Let's put meadows where they belong - at the heart of our story.💚 They are living links to our past, part of our culture and communities, and vital homes for wildlife. 🌱 But they’re in decline — under pressure from development, pollution and intensive farming. 🧵[1/2]
A person holding a tool called a scythe in a wildflower meadow. The title reads 'National Meadows Day' and there is a  Plantlife logo in the top left hand corner.
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Waste Badger @wastebadger.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Council begins rollout of new electric waste fleet worth more than £7m www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Well, well, well....economists have pulled their heads out of the sand and realised that extreme heat will have a big impact on economies Climate scientists, and others, have been saying this for decades There's a reason economics is called the dismal science www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Too hot for work: why extreme heat is a threat to Europe’s productivity
High temperatures make some workplaces dangerous, with economists warning disruption will dent growth
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Paul van der Meer @paulvandermeer.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
This year will be a breakpoint. The heat waves in France and the UK (in June) and the floods in China are the first signs.
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Younity @younityuk.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
⚡🚗 For the first time, more electric vehicles than petrol cars have been sold in the UK over a 12-month period. The milestone highlights the growing shift towards cleaner transport as EV adoption continues to accelerate across the country. 🌱
carbonbrief.org
Analysis: UK sales of electric vehicles just overtook petrol cars for the first time - Carbon Brief
For the first time in the UK, more new electric vehicles (EVs) have been sold over a 12-month period than petrol cars, according to Carbon Brief analysis.
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
All bets are off in terms of how hot UK and European summers will get, and how quickly I would not be surprised by 45C in the UK in the next 10 years - perhaps much sooner And 50C+ in Europe - perhaps as soon as this year www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
UK records its hottest June day and France its hottest day ever as heatwave sweeps Europe
Temperature of 36.1C recorded in Hampshire, while two-thirds of Europe’s population experience temperatures above 30C
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
It's just one long stream of BS from these fossil fuel-backed clowns. Adopting their policies would destroy a million jobs (see next post) while creating almost none in return. Total environmental and social vandalism. The absolute state of "conservatism". www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Populist and rightwing figures take aim at Ed Miliband and UK net zero policies at ‘anti-woke Davos’
Kemi Badenoch, who joined US anti-abortion activists and European far-right parties at ARC, described energy secretary as a ‘villain’
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James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
This is flat wrong from Unite. It’s just not true there’s been ‘almost no thought for jobs, skills and national security’. There’s been a huge amount of thought on all these issues and a decision has been made that jobs, skills, and security all benefit from a faster clean energy transition.
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
So rapidly is the heat building that I think I might have been a couple of decades late with at least part of this scenario www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Heatwaves are becoming the norm. This is what Britain will look like in the year 2052 | Bill McGuire
People sleep outside because their houses are too hot to inhabit, water is scarce and supermarkets are for the wealthy, says climate academic Bill McGuire
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
It's obvious to point out attacks against Muslims get ignored - but still needs repeatedly calling out. An Antisemitic attack should be reported and action taken. But where is the same media outrage, cobra meetings and calling of national emergency when 5 Muslims are attacked?
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Summer temperatures of 34C in the UK are barely news these days It was 35C in May www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Met Office issues rare amber extreme heat warning for parts of England and Wales
Temperatures expected to climb to 30C over the weekend in southern England and south-east Wales
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Sea-surface temperature across El Nino region 3.4 heading into unknown territory We don't know where this will end up
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
This is local to us in Hertford
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Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 22/05/2026
Castle (Lancaster) Council By-Election Result: 🌍 GRN: 70.0% (+4.9) 🌹 LAB: 15.7% (-10.6) ➡️ RFM: 10.9% (New) 🔶 LDM: 3.4% (+0.0) No CON (-5.3) as previous. Green HOLD. Changes w/ 2024.
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Bishop's Stortford library staff say that the thermal camera scheme, promoted by Green cllr Tim Hoskin, has been a great success, with over 60 loans, helping people to reduce their energy costs. The scheme runs again in Winter 2026. premium.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/council...
premium.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk
Councils set up free thermal imaging camera loan scheme for East Herts householders
“This scheme gives people a simple and effective way to understand where their home may be losing heat, so they can make improvements.”
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Sue Nicholls 💚 @suenicholls.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Don’t forget it’s Buntingford Green Drinks this Thursday 21 May from 7pm at the Crown. Lots to talk about from local events, volunteering opportunities to next year’s elections. Meet your local green councillors. See you there?
Buntingford Green Drinks poster - Thursday 21 May from 7pm at the Crown in Buntingford. Lots to talk about from local events and volunteering opportunities to next year’s elections.
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 16/05/2026
"In the same post he also wrote "do I really wanna do this?" saying the role involved "endless boring meetings" and "the pay is so poor for all u do"." Reform UK not up for it? That's a surprise... www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2528…
bbc.co.uk
Reform councillor Barry Martin quits after saying role was 'dull and boring'
Staffordshire Reform councillor Barry Martin has been the subject of a council complaints inquiry.
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Water UK says water companies won’t treat whole classes of pollutants because it is not legally required. The big NGOs say no new laws are needed. That is functional alignment. Stop the soft-ask scam. Update the law. #EndSewagePollution @RiverActionUK @sascampaigns @wateruk.bsky.social
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
A rubbish photo of a young Goldfinch picking seeds from dandelions and thistles on the lawn - a direct beneficiary of #nomowMay 💚
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Another congratulations: this time to Bengeo’s own Cllr Alex Daar @greendaar.bsky.social on becoming Hertford’s 4th Green Mayor! 🥳Fantastic news - and huge congratulations to Cllr Maura Connolly too for her 2nd time as Deputy Mayor! 💚💚
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Congratulations to Green cllr John Dunlop from Hunsdon who has been elected as the new chairman at East District Herts Council! 💚👏🏻 And to cllr Joe Thomas his new vice-chair!
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
A happy crowd out in Bengeo today unveiling the new Bengeo Mosaic, a wonderful creation by the community and led by Aska and Clare, and supported by Hertford Town Council, Love Bengeo and by East Herts and Hertfordshire County Councils. Thanks all 💚
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
If you're in Little Hadham & The Pelhams and not yet voted, the time is now! ✅Vote Green, Rob Dawson, to get a hard-working and independent councillor to represent you.
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Great to catch up with Green party candidate for Little Hadham and The Pelhams Rob Dawson - after 4 weeks hard work on the local campaign trail Rob is still out, talking to residents and visiting all 7 polling stations. With such dedication and focus you deserve to get the seat Rob! Good luck 💚
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Ben Crystall @bencrystall.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Good luck today to Rob Dawson, our Green candidate in Little Hadham and The Pelhams. You’ve worked so hard, walking the ward, talking to hundreds of residents and patiently discussing politics and local issues on the doorsteps and always listening to people’s views. 💚👏🏻
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Thank you Rabbi for your kind words! 🙏🏽
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East Herts Green Party @easthertsgreens.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Who’s on the right road to getting your vote tomorrow? Rob Dawson, Green Party candidate for Little Hadham & The Pelhams, on how he’ll work hard to improve our area. ✅Vote Green for real change, real hope. Follow us on socials and our website eastherts.greenparty.org.uk
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
“10 publishers—The Toxic 10—are spreading baseless, unscientific climate denial on their own websites & across social media. They are responsible for 69% of all interactions with climate denial content on Facebook. It's a climate denial propaganda machine funded in part by Google via ad revenue…”
counterhate.com
The Toxic Ten — Center for Countering Digital Hate | CCDH
We are at a climate tipping point. Delayed action means humanity will be forced to endure continual and worsening surges in heat waves, droughts, typhoons and hurricanes, rising sea levels, and the de...
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