Sign in

Shamira A. Meghani

@drmeghani.bsky.social
228 followers 275 following 23 posts

Assistant Prof in Dept of English Studies, Durham University ~ postcolonial, anti-colonial & diaspora, queer, trans & feminist, lit & film ~ Vegan (since 2001!); as low-carbon as I can; often angry, ever hopeful. non-binary (they/them)

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Mallory Moore @sexabolition.blog · 13/06/2026
There's a common reactionary anti AI claim that the shift to agentic AI is because it increases token use and it's dead wrong. It's much dumber than that. If you ask an LLM what time it is, it can't tell you. If you give the LLM access to the time command that you could have run yourself, it can.
4747136
Shamira A. Meghani @drmeghani.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Have just listened to Bregman’s excellent first lecture (questions still going) and am deeply disappointed (but sadly not surprised) that the BBC has censored this year’s Reith Lecturer! Short🧵below.
110
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 25/11/2025
I share this with respect for the many excellent journalists at the BBC. And with the hope that transparency helps strengthen, not weaken, our democratic culture. /5
202669264
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 25/11/2025
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites. About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
123683569
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 25/11/2025
This has happened against my wishes, and I’m genuinely dismayed by it. Not because people can’t disagree with my words, but because self-censorship driven by fear (Trump threatening to sue the BBC) should concern all of us. /3
123356411
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 25/11/2025
This sentence was taken out of a lecture they commissioned, reviewed through the full editorial process, and recorded four weeks ago in front of 500 people in the BBC Radio Theatre. I was told the decision came from the highest levels within the BBC. /2
222642402
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 25/11/2025
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
337100445078
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Anil Dash @anildash.com · 08/11/2025
Hopefully you’ve all read this excellent piece by Peter Coviello, about why you should never talk to the New York Times, or in general any media with a preconceived agenda. But also see his “Is there God after Prince?”, written just after Prince’s passing… lareviewofbooks.org/article/is-t...
lareviewofbooks.org
Is There God After Prince? | Los Angeles Review of Books
611325
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
My old pal Pete Coviello — one of the best writers and thinkers I've ever known — wrote the piece of the moment lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
17581145
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
"A publicly accessible tool that invents false criminal allegations about a sitting US senator represents a catastrophic failure of oversight and ethical responsibility.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Experts find flaws in hundreds of tests that check AI safety and effectiveness
Scientists say almost all have weaknesses in at least one area that can ‘undermine validity of resulting claims’
13620
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
@zackpolanski gives a masterclass in how to deal with the bad faith questioning and constant attempts at interrupting of Trevor Phillips. Phillips' gotchas all fall flat as Zack walks all over him.
24316
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
David Veevers @davidveevers.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Just read a passage in a book that describes elderly people as time machines: able to recall the past whilst being reminders to younger people of the future that awaits them. I think that’s a pretty magical understanding of age.
1225428
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Jamie Callahan @profjamiec.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
I knew @northumbriauni.bsky.social had taken away staff desks in NBS this summer, making them essentially hotdesk. Now the employer has informed staff that they are gutting their pensions, too. If there was EVER a time to join @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social, NOW is the time!
143
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Emily C. Hughes @emilyhughes.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
13143604270
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Ruth! @ruthholliday.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Around 10,000 university workers being made redundant this year. Labour policies are definitely cutting through in higher education …
04216
Shamira A. Meghani @drmeghani.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
I absolutely love this vision of change and change-making as well as Polanski’s rethinking of the transatlantic ‘special relationship’.
000
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Stellbound: Stellraiser II @antlervel.vet · 06/11/2025
This is complete hogwash
11666351931
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕 @mimmymum.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
A Whitehall source said: “Unfortunately this looks like the EHRC deflecting – they still haven’t sent ministers the information requested in order to assess the draft code. The EHRC should be cracking on with their job, not giving lectures on timing while government still awaits their material” 🔥
theguardian.com
EHRC drops interim trans advice and urges ministers to act fast to approve its guidance
Equalities watchdog removes interim response to supreme court ruling on legal definition of a woman from its website
916743
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
The Palestine Project @palestineproject.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Many of the 90 bodies of Palestinians returned to Gaza by Israeli authorities under the ceasefire deal showed signs of torture and execution, including blindfolds, cuffed hands and bullet wounds in the head, according to doctors’ accounts.
theguardian.com
Palestinian bodies returned by Israel show signs of torture and execution, say doctors
Almost all had been blindfolded and had gunshot wounds between the eyes, says medic at Nasser hospital in Gaza
053
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 12/10/2025
Men like Piers Morgan have found women in trans women who it is socially acceptable to abuse. Every time they do this stuff they are telling you how they'd treat cis women if they could get away with it.
4510108
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Phil McDuff @mcduff.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
The grand tradition of lying to strangers asking you survey questions
43111
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
One hundred percent this. Transmisogyny is misogyny.
0519
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
“I’m old enough to remember when mainstream British politicians, who should know better, stirred up racial hatred as a path to power. You’re old enough to remember too because it was last Tuesday. And it was Robert Jenrick” Cathartic anger at flag-flying racism. www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
thenerve.news
Stewart Lee: The thugs have taken my flag. So I’ve taken theirs
What do you do with a lot of cheap banners hanging from motorway bridges once you’ve torn them down?
451796663
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
gofund.me/db9a1b3ef
gofund.me
Donate to 'Brummies United Against Racism and Hate' Poster Campaign, organized by Brummies United
Help Us Flood Birmingham with a Message of Unity and Hope … Brummies United needs your support for 'Brummies United Against Racism and Hate' Poster Campaign
2145
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
"A message of neighbourly solidarity is thriving in Birmingham against a backdrop of racist intimidation" #antifa #StGeorge #racism #flags www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
theguardian.com
‘Brummies united against racism’: poster campaign takes on the far right
A message of neighbourly solidarity is thriving in Birmingham against a backdrop of racist intimidation
26524
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
it appears that @bsky.app have suspended the account of @jessiegender because a trans person saying "I wish ill on JK Rowling" is against the rules, so let me say with my loud cis voice that I too wish ill on all perpetrators of hate speech against trans people reinstate Jessie, this is ridiculous
254167276067
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Paul Crider @paulcrider.liberalcurrents.com · 07/06/2024
Excited to learn that R Derek Black has a new book out! There was a minor media blitz about Black a few years ago because they'd come out against white supremacy after growing up deeply embedded in the white nationalist movement. Rare Youtube algorithm win. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnzB...
youtube.com
They Were the Poster Child for the KKK; Now They Advocate for Antiracism | Amanpour and Company
In a new memoir, “The Klansman’s Son," R. Derek Black writes about their upbringing and personal transformation – from a committed white supremacist since ch...
141
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
The Palestine Project @palestineproject.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
My friend Nader was killed at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site. I want those responsible for his murder held to account. Silence over these crimes is complicity, and silence today means they will happen again tomorrow.
aljazeera.com
Those who weaponise aid and kill under its cover must face justice
My friend Nader was killed at a GHF site. I want those responsible for his murder held to account.
056
Shamira A. Meghani @drmeghani.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Habibi trouncing!😂
010
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Is he dead yet? ☠️🪦 @mrfuryo.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
😏😙🤌Chef’s kiss emoji
0282
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Qasim Rashid, Esq. @qasimrashid.com · 13/08/2025
World War 2 & Vietnam War lasted a combined 27 years, or just shy of 10,000 days. In that time, a total of 132 journalists were killed. Israel has sieged Gaza for just under 700 days & killed 242+ journalists. This violates Art 79 of Add’l Protocol (I) of Geneva Conventions. These Are War Crimes.
6658216
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Anyone who fails to see that we are careening toward fascism is not paying attention.
60384642500
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Reform just tell people whatever they think you want to hear. And of course that includes former Tory Ministers turned Reform. We must hold them to account. Every. Single. Time.
71651214
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Heartbreaking to watch a much of our world descend into misogyny, butchery, homophobia, transphobia and out and out racism and realise that those politicians and media outlets we thought would fight them actually are more confident encouraging them, platforming them and silencing criticism
1033775
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
mskathleenquinn.bsky.social @mskathleenquinn.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
"For a brief moment, the publication of photos of starving Palestinians broke through the wall of propaganda, prompting minimal concessions. But the siege continues, the hunger deepens and the mass killing expands." www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
aljazeera.com
Israel’s starvation denial is an Orwellian farce
The Israeli ‘hasbara’ cannot disprove the obvious, but it can obfuscate and exhaust.
011
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
SUPPORTING PALESTINE @apirus.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
#israel #anti-war #Zionism #protest #gaza #palestine This was the largest and most raucous anti-government demonstration in months. “The anger was palpable; it was probably the first demonstration that I can recall that had a decidedly anti-war sentiment.”
irishexaminer.com
Finally, a large-scale anti-war protest in Israel
Suffering of Palestinians is still very low on the priority list for most Israelis, but anti-war sentiment grows nonetheless
2115
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Odd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
Today is the 47th anniversary of this clearly unimprovable photo, from a story so absurd that it shouldn’t be true, but is: the day a team of workers from British Waterways pulled the plug out of the Chesterfield Canal, and all the water emptied out
A man with a spectacular 1970s mullet, wearing big wellies and a v-neck jumper over a T-shirt, looks at camera as he stands on a boat which is itself standing on the muddy bottom of an empty canal. He is holding up an enormous wooden plug on a long chunky chain
612578938
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
bumbling about town 🐝🍉 @tinyearlobe.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
Half the first book prize, 40% of judges and a third of the main prize! It’s not looking great Polari.
317535
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Sacha Coward @sachacoward.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
I will be asking to remove 'Queer As Folklore' from the long list for the Polari Prize 2025.
1472974467
Shamira A. Meghani @drmeghani.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
“The timing and frequency of the flights also raised questions about what atrocities British military pilots had borne witness to in the past 20 months.”
020
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Gee whizz, why aren’t these people doing anything to stop the crimes against humanity, why won’t they meaningfully speak out against it. A real mystery
BACK IN BRITAIN: There are fresh questions about the British military's involvement in surveillance operations over Gaza. The Times reports that the U.K. is paying American contractors in Nevada to carry out secret spying missions for Israel due to a shortage of RAF planes. Larisa Brown's scoop was the product of a "schoolboy" error which meant the flight path of the U.S. aircraft was made publicly available and it could be seen flying over the largely leveled city of Khan Yunis in July.
RAF spy planes: Despite longstanding opacity over its involvement, MoD officials are now confirming to Playbook (and others) that the RAF has indeed been carrying out surveillance flights over Gaza since December 2023, just
05019
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
A US media outlet. British ones were instructed on day one to not talk about any of this and have obeyed faithfully, even when the PM went to the Cyprus airbase Britain and America have been using to keep Israel armed the teeth and said he couldn’t talk openly about that had been going on there.
Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.ne... • 29m
Politico today: "There are fresh questions about the British military's involvement in surveillance operations over Gaza. The Times reports that the U.K. is paying American contractors in Nevada to carry out secret spying missions for Israel due to a shortage of RAF planes."
58933
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
So good to be in Brighton tonight for our South East Hustings. We need to tackle inequality and take the fight to Reform. All while keeping solidarity to the people who need us to show up for them. That's what the Green Party stands for. Link below to live hustings feed. 👇🏼
Polanski said trans rights are human rights. We have to be actively anti racist. We also have to take on transphobia and be actively anti transphobic. Trans men are men, trans women are women and non binary identities exist. Lets make sure we actively defend trans people...because they need it right now.
27820137
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
DBCII @dbcii.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Librarian here, and Ebook Central (formerly ebrary, longtime ProQuest platform) is moving away from a model where libraries can directly license individual books, alongside full AI integration. It’s led their top competition EBSCO to double down on… NOT doing that. Very happy to use EBSCO.
410222
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Natalie J. Ring @historycounts.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Okay this is worse than I thought. A large # of academic press books (incld. a textbook I use in class) have been moved to a platform called Ebook Central. It's like Kindle paired w/ AI. No footnotes. No page #s No facsimile PDFs are available. I just wrote a lengthy complaint to my library. Sigh.
1628298
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Jonty @fairless.xyz · 04/08/2025
I *adore* what Kieran and the @neheritagelib.bsky.social are doing right now. Watching him explore and explain the places I grew up is amazing. I'm north of the border these days, but if you're in the north east get yourself along to the social. Bet it'll be a good night.
153
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 05/08/2025
Fascinating listening to Sopel and Goodall go on and on about how people have 'legitimate concerns' about immigrants, in a podcast about the Tories and Reform stoking riots, completely oblivious to how they are also a huge part of the problem by legitimising racism as 'concerns'.
821742
Reposted by Shamira A. Meghani
Lori Lou Freshwater @lorifreshwater.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
A member of the House of Lords urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at the request of a US defence company that employs him as an adviser.
24220