iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Beyond Fossil Fuels @beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🚨BREAKING: New report by @ketanjoshi.co finds NVIDIA’s indirect emissions have risen 725% since 2020. Reminder, there is no evidence to say AI is a net benefit for climate, and Europe can't lock itself into more fossil gas to power data centres for Big Tech profits. ketanjoshi.co/2026/09/16/n...

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Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures @granthamcsf.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

From 'thing' to 'kin' - rethinking our relationship with water 💧 Last week Julia Martin-Ortega gave a fascinating talk on ‘What is water worth? Moving beyond the price tag’ as part of our ‘Rethinking Prosperity on a Finite Planet’ series. Watch the full recording here 👇 📽️ tinyurl.com/226khh56

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Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures @granthamcsf.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

"It is not just an environmental crime but also economically illiterate." Senior Research Fellow in Sustainability Policy @richsulley.bsky.social spoke to @theguardian.com about the UK's plan to develop North Sea oil & gas fields despite the resulting damage to our climate & economy. Read here 👇

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Tanya D. || Writer || Narrative Designer @cypheroftyr.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Daaaamn. “AI is the asbestos we're shovelling into the walls of our technological society. Our descendants will spend generations digging it out again, and the longer the bubble goes on without popping, the longer it will take to repair the damage." www.thenerve.news/p/cory-docto...

thenerve.news

Cory Doctorow: The people who tell you ‘AI is changing everything’ are lying

It has become impossible to tell managers mesmerised by artificial intelligence that the tools are not, in fact, helpful. So employees just play along with the fiction to keep their jobs, writes our t...

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elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Jesus. 35 UK universities quietly- without debate - joined the Ministry of Defence’s “Battlefield Alliance” which seeks to “reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security” They’re destroying the social sciences and humanities while militarising the institutions

• Durham University
• Newcastle University
• Northumbria University
• Lancaster University
• University of Cumbria
• University of Lancashire
• University of Liverpool
• University of Manchester
• University of Huddersfield
• University of Sheffield
• University of York
• Loughborough University
• University of Lincoln
• University of Nottingham
• Aston University
• University of Birmingham
• University of Warwick
• King's College London
• Kingston University
• Queen Mary University of London
• University College London
• University of Oxford
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Surrey
• University of Bath
• University of Bristol
• University of Exeter
• University of Plymouth
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of Strathclyde
• Cardiff University
• Swansea University
• Queens University Belfast
• Cranfield University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 July 2026
UK Universities Betray Public Trust by Joining MoD's 'Battlefield Advantage' Alliance
Without Debate
A coalition of campaign groups has accused UK universities of quietly integrating themselves into Britain's defence infrastructure after 35 institutions signed up to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Universities Alliance (DUA).
The Ministry of Defence says the alliance aims to "reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security", strengthen links between universities and the defence sector, and translate research into "battlefield advantage".
Campaigners say the move represents a significant shift in the role of higher education and has taken place without meaningful public debate.
Among the founding members are the University of Oxford, University College London, King's College London, the University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, Cardiff University and Queen's University Belfast.
"We are witnessing the formal incorporation of Britain's universities into the defence ecosystem," said Jinsella Kennaway, Founder and Executive Director of Demilitarise Education.
"The Ministry of Defence is explicit about its intentions. Universities exist to advance knowledge and foster critical inquiry, not to become pipelines for military research and defence recruitment.
Students and staff deserve to know who agreed to this and why."
Campaigners are calling on all 35 universities to publish the governance documents and board minutes relating to their decision to join the alliance, and to explain whether staff and students were consulted.
Many UK universities already maintain relationships with major defence companies, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, Thales, Lockheed Martin and QinetiQ. Critics argue that the DUA formalises and accelerates the integration of academia, industry and the state.
The coalition warns that, at a time of rising defence spending, universities risk becoming increasingly aligned with governme…

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Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures @granthamcsf.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Join us for this celebration of soil and explore the latest research about this life-giving, yet often forgotten, substance. 🌱 This two-day symposium will bring together researchers from across disciplines to share insights and encourage collaborations. Book your free ticket 👉 tinyurl.com/2xa5k6dz

eventbrite.co.uk

Finding Common Ground: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Soil

This two-day symposium is part of a series of events exploring current soil-focussed research from a range of disciplinary perspectives.

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Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures @granthamcsf.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

🚨A powerful warning about the cost of inaction in the face of a climate crisis! A big thank you to activist and researcher, Keir Milburn, for giving a fascinating talk as part of our 'Rethinking Prosperity on a Finite Planet' event series. 🙏

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Mark Pendleton @markpendleton.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Back on strike with @sheffielducu.bsky.social. Why? Management is pushing ahead with restructures despite sitting on £200m+ in reserves. Along with colleagues in East Asian Studies, I also find out in 12 days how many of us they want to fire. No justification is deemed necessary by management.

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Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

From tomorrow, Sheffield University staff are on strike again! Our university is being destroyed and we must respond. We'll be on that picket line to defend our colleagues, students, education, community, & ultimately, our dignity. Share & support! @ucu.org.uk @sheffielducu.bsky.social

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Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures @granthamcsf.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

How can Social #LCA help us make a fairer food system? @benpurvis42.bsky.social from our #Sustainable Assessment team explains the human impact behind what we eat. Watch here ⬇️

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Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Last push in our ballot this weekend and into next week 💪 If you haven't already, get that vote posted! If you've posted it make sure you've let us know! (Google Form in our latest member emails) 📣Job cuts are a choice, not a necessity 📣 bsky.app/profile/jwar...

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Joseph Ward @jward232.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Though I'm still feeling the impact of 16 days strike action +3 weeks lockout, I've just posted my ballot in our dispute @sheffielducu.bsky.social We can't let management get away with strike breaking tactics and unnecessary attacks on the learning/working conditions of staff and students!

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Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

If you are a @ucu.org.uk member at the University of Sheffield, don't forget to vote! @sheffielducu.bsky.social

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Eva Haifa Giraud @evahaifa.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

A rare thing: *four* three-year hums/soc-sci posts in animal studies, on the Multispecies Mutualisms project at UoSheffield - with @rosaleenduffy.bsky.social, me, Robert McKay and Alasdair Cochrane; see here for a video explainer: digitalmedia.sheffield.ac.uk/media/Multis...

digitalmedia.sheffield.ac.uk

Multispecies Mutualisms - Join Our Research Team!

We’re hiring 4 Postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRAs) In this video, members of the team share insights into four exciting PDRA opportunities currently available. If you are ready to take the next s...

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Ben Purvis @benpurvis42.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

In no way is it acceptable to non-consensually paste AI generated text (slop) into shared work. Endless screaming

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

William Nordhaus received the Nobel Memorial Prize for these flawed economic models, and Bjorn Lomborg built a highly lucrative career on them. They told rich and powerful people what they wanted to hear. While helping to consign us all to catastrophe. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Flawed economic models mean climate crisis could crash global economy, experts warn

States and financial bodies using modelling that ignores shocks from extreme weather and climate tipping points

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 29/01/2026

Staff ,supporters and students gathered outside Firth Court today in solidarity with colleagues locked out and facing withheld pay after lawful strike action at @sheffielducu Punishment is not negotiation. ✊

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Natalia Cecire @ncecire.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

There is money for "education" if and only if that money is being directly funneled to corporations. Anything involving actual learning, however, well there's no magic money tree

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Ben Purvis @benpurvis42.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

First publication of the year 👇 We discuss what social and cultural sustainability mean for food systems, and how life cycle thinking can move beyond looking just at carbon to consider the people involved at each step from farm to fork. bsky.app/profile/gran...

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Mark Pendleton @markpendleton.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Well that’s me locked out. No pay for the foreseeable future, all because I refuse to reschedule lost teaching, for which I have already lost pay as part of the strike. Please donate to support @sheffielducu.bsky.social members like me at www.gofundme.com/f/heubvb-sup...

Screenshot of email that reads: “This status will remain in place until the University receives notification that you are no longer participating in that action. During this period, any work undertaken will be regarded as voluntary.”

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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 09/01/2026

Data centres that briefly wind down during grid stress are shaving a small slice off a net harm, they are not 'supporting the transition' In the same way CCS *might* slightly reduce emissions, but overall end up facilitating new fossil fuel use.... www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Highlights
•
Data Centres are responsible for 1.7 % of global electricity consumption.
•
Data Centres in the United Kingdom consume approximately 2.5 % of the nation's electricity.
•
Data Centres contribute to 1 % of all energy-related greenhouse gases.
•
By 2026, the energy consumption of data centre is projected to double to around 1000 TWh compared with 2022.
•
Data Centres support the transition to net zero by providing flexibility through adjusting their energy consumption.

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Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures @granthamcsf.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Christmas gift already broken? You’re not alone. 🎁😢 Dr Stuart Walker from our Sustainability Assessment Team volunteered at a repair café to help fix people's faulty gifts. Read his @uk.theconversation.com article to find out how these community hubs are tackling waste ⬇️ tinyurl.com/5x5dzhkf

theconversation.com

I volunteer in a repair cafe: we can help you learn to fix your broken Christmas gift

Hundreds of items are taken to repair cafes after Christmas in the hope that they can be fixed.

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Mark Pendleton @markpendleton.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

As things wind down for the holidays, @sheffielducu.bsky.social members are facing a threat of 100% pay deductions from January, thanks to our Scrooge-like management. We’ve now set up a fundraiser to bolster our local solidarity fund. If you can spare some change, please do! gofund.me/ac2b3adcb

gofund.me

Donate to Support University of Sheffield striking staff!, organized by Mark Pendleton

I'm the branch treasurer for the University of Sheffield University and… Mark Pendleton needs your support for Support University of Sheffield striking staff!

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Abi O'Connor @drabioconnor.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Day 11 of our current strike at @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk … The story goes that we can’t afford to keep staff in their jobs but we can afford this 👇

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Casket Based @cineblah.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

There is absolutely nothing left to the UK but bigotry and spite. A hateful place, you can almost taste it in the air, makes it hard to breathe.

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Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

We will resist the bullies with our usual courage and resolve - for the good of our students, our university, and our city. We won't allow the dismantling of higher education without resistance. @ucu.org.uk @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucuhallam.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

University of Sheffield staff 'intimidated' by pay forfeit warning

University of Sheffield to withhold pay if staff do not make up for teaching missed while striking.

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Joseph Ward @jward232.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Great to see media coverage of the hostile and punitive approach taken by management at @sheffielduni.bsky.social towards @sheffielducu.bsky.social staff striking to protect jobs. Threats and intimidation won't work. We're out until we win! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

University of Sheffield staff 'intimidated' by pay forfeit warning

University of Sheffield to withhold pay if staff do not make up for teaching missed while striking.

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Ian Sudbery @iansudbery.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Check out this post about our current situation from a colleague at another university. @sheffielducu.bsky.social

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Ian Sudbery @iansudbery.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Tuesday my union offered to call off 2 weeks of strikes, in return for postponing the redudnacy of, maybe, 5 people for three months. Yesterday the uni wrote to all staff saying "not interested", unless we completely caved. Today we toured picket lines across campus: @sheffielducu.bsky.social

A picket line outside a unversity building

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Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Some of our furrier members have been enjoying our strong turnout over the past couple of weeks. Lots of comrades to cuddle #picketpups

A curious dog on a lead at the Sheffield UCU and Sheffield Hallam rally.

A happy dog posing in front of a "Stop the Cuts to Higher Education" UCU placard.

A black and white dog with a mulicoloured scarf over it's head. It is leashed and has an open mouth an happy expression.

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richsulley.bsky.social @richsulley.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

On the picket today (until it starts raining at least) cc @sheffielducu.bsky.social

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UCU Hallam @ucuhallam.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

JOINT RALLY ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us on Monday 17th November, 12:30PM @ Bakers Pool, Sheffield. For a joint rally with Uni of Sheffield. There will be speakers from both branches and we will hear from Dave Pike, TUC Regional Secretary, NE Yorkshire and Humber.

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Ben Purvis @benpurvis42.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Spending my Friday night lost in UK renewable fuel statistics for some more 'Sustainable' Aviation Fuel work.. Some good news is the UK seems to be on track to meet the target of 2% SAF use by 2025 (provisional data indicates being very close to meeting this in 2024) www.gov.uk/government/s...

gov.uk

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation statistics: data tables

Data on the supply of renewable fuel, as required under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).

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richsulley.bsky.social @richsulley.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

"𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻"

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Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures @granthamcsf.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Last week we brought together academics, artists and activists for the @sheffielduni.bsky.social Sustainability Symposium 2025 🌎 The day was full of fascinating discussions about interdisciplinarity, communities of practice, and the role of art and storytelling in activism. #SheffSustSymp 1/4

Dr Joshua Forstenzer, Professor Thomas Webb and Dr Stephen Allen talking on stage at the Sustainability Symposium 2025.

A view of the crowd at the Sustainability Symposium 2025

Jon Alexander speaking at the Sustainability Symposium 2025

Harun Morrison speaking at the Sustainability Symposium 2025

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Sheffield UCU @sheffielducu.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

BREAKING: Our members at the University of Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly for strike action against the University Executive Board’s ongoing campaign of job cuts, and the threat to staff workload and wellbeing that they represent.

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Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

@sheffielducu.bsky.social member? This is your last chance to vote. Whatever your views, please protect democracy in your union, and do so immediately. Thank you. Please share. @ucu.org.uk #UCUstrike

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Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

University of Sheffield @ucu.org.uk members, have you voted? If you haven't, please do so immediately as the deadline is soon. Trade union solidarity is one the most important tools we've got left in our much troubled world. Don't waste it. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ucuhallam.bsky.social

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Ben Purvis @benpurvis42.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

An unwelcome boost to our ongoing @sheffielducu.bsky.social industrial action ballot as our VC announces more work areas to be targeted by cuts. It is unclear that this has much to do with finances, but is more an ideological push to change the University's "size and shape".

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Rosaleen Duffy @rosaleenduffy.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Kinda good (but also infuriating in a told ya so kind of way) to see #CCS being more widely recognised for the techno optimist tool of distraction it always was. Political ecologists & many others have called out CCS BS for years. Good to have this new study⬇️ www.imperial.ac.uk/news/255614/...

imperial.ac.uk

Study finds limits to storing CO2 underground to combat climate change | Imperial News | Imperial College London

Imperial research has found limits to how quickly we can scale up technology to store gigatonnes of carbon dioxide under the Earth’s surface.

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Ben Purvis @benpurvis42.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Really recommend this by @emilymbender.bsky.social & @alexhanna.bsky.social Incisively cuts through dangerous big tech bullshit surrounding so-called 'AI' Worth emphasising that 'AI' is a marketing term for a wide range of tools that are pretty shit outside of very specific uses thecon.ai

thecon.ai

THE AI CON

How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want

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Umberto Albarella STOP THE GENOCIDE! @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Here goes my vote for strike action at the University of Sheffield. When your management treats staff & students as disposable commodities, it's your duty, even more than your right, to respond. @sheffielducu.bsky.social @zooarchlabsheff.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk #sheffield #university #workersrights

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Mark Pendleton @markpendleton.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Don’t like to have to keep doing this, but management has left us again with no choice. We will vote again to take action and massive numbers will again be out on picket lines. And like last year, management will again back down. All of that can be prevented if management chooses to negotiate.

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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 26/08/2025

OpenAI is an evil company and should be shut down.

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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

if you see someone shoplifting food or baby formula or nappies, no you didn’t

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Now Then magazine @nowthenmag.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

With the advent of powerful new synthetic opioids, health workers fear we could be about to see an explosion in the rate of drug deaths in #Sheffield. Could 'The Thistle', a pioneering project in Glasgow that allows drug users to inject on-site, be part of the solution? @sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

nowthenmagazine.com

Drug death epidemic: Is it time to bring legal consumption rooms to Sheffield?

A pioneering new project in Glasgow aims to cut the number of overdose deaths by providing a safe environment for injecting powerful opioids. Could this model work in South Yorkshire?

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