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Frank McDonald

@frankmcdonald60.bsky.social
2.1K followers 609 following 543 posts

Former Irish Times Environment Editor and author of several books, including A Little History of the Future of Dublin. Interests include climate, housing, architecture, politics and Palestine.

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Reposted by Frank McDonald
Anson Stewart @ansonstewart.com · 04/08/2026
Sevilla this summer — amazing how comfortable the streets are even on hot afternoons
Narrow pedestrian street with shade canopies hanging between the tops of buildings
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Frank McDonald @frankmcdonald60.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Mesmerising and frightening ... www.youtube/shorts/FHTU1...
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Criodán Ó Murchú (he/him) @criodanomurchu.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Make no mistake, this is the same rhetoric seen across neoliberal governments in the world - they want to enact their policies and infrastructural goals, without ensuring/caring it follows the law and is of benefit for citizens at large Chambers is stating he is against people challenging the state
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
At least 52 people have died in ICE custody since Trump returned to the White House. At least 23 people have been shot at by federal immigration agents. And thousands more have been caged, separated from their families, or shipped off to dangerous countries. The cruelty is endless.
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Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
I'll be on #BBCNews TV ~6pm ET / 11pm London to discuss the climate change-fueled wildfires currently ravaging Europe: www.bbc.com/watch-live-n...
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Frank McDonald @frankmcdonald60.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
As a European, I find this abject failure even to name the perpetrator -- Israel -- utterly unforgiveable ...
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Mike Nellis @mikenellis.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Absolutely heartbreaking letter from the mother of Alex Pretti, six months after his murder by ICE agents. How is it possible that we still haven’t seen even a hint of justice for such a heinous crime?
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David @rebelalliance77.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
@frankmcdonald60.bsky.social €60! Oxfam destroying the concept of a second hand bookshop. They should rebrand as rare book dealers.
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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Shameful. A country reeling from a devastating earthquake and America is looting it blind.
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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
We are really beginning to see the value of the EU’s Digital Services Act, as huge fines are applied to MNCs that fail to respect European rules. European consumers have to be protected from predatory operators. www.politico.eu/article/eu-h...
politico.eu
EU hits China’s Alibaba with €550M record fine over illegal products
“There were a lot of counterfeit products, unsafe toys and dangerous cosmetics” on AliExpress, Europe’s tech chief says.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Just 10 billionaires have already poured over $600 MILLION into this year's midterms. In the entire 2008 presidential cycle, the last election before Citizens United, total billionaire spending was $16 million. If you're wondering what the real threat to "election integrity" is, it's Big Money.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Next time someone tries arguing that it’s “social engineering” (cue ominous music) to give people more CHOICE to walk, bike & take public transit in their city, tell them that designing our current car DEPENDENCY has been the largest and most damaging social engineering experiment in human history.
Highway filled with car congestionLow density suburban sprawl filled with roads and cookie cutter subdivisions.
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Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
The power of Big Ag is THE biggest threat to nature, is right up there re our food security and health, and probably on a par with the fossil fuel industry for the climate. Of *course* we need farming, but not like this. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
theguardian.com
Revealed: how Europe’s most powerful farming lobby killed EU’s pesticide law
Exclusive: High-level documents show how Copa Cogeca worked to weaken legislation to protect climate and wildlife
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Frank McDonald @frankmcdonald60.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
We’ve never seen a goalkeeper and defensive line put under such a sustained siege as Argentina mounted to win the match against England. Quite extraordinary …
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Boolean www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
irishexaminer.com
Historic Cork building still empty after council sold it to UCC a decade ago at a loss of €360k
UCC says all options for George Boole House are being considered, from development to disposal. No decision has been made at this point
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The commission has argued the ban aims to achieve a “foreign policy objective” by sending a political message to Israel. That has been read as the Berlaymont signalling any proposed ban it puts on the table would need the backing of all 27 member states. The argument looks to be a fairly shaky one.
https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2026/07/13/momentum-for-eu-action-over-israeli-settlements-gets-bogged-down-in-procedural-squabble/
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Fred Logue @fplogue.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
A referendum for another development model thomaspiketty.wordpress.com/2026/06/23/a...
thomaspiketty.wordpress.com
A referendum for another development model
France is set to make decisive political choices in the coming year. On one side stands a nationalist right wing on the rise, increasingly aligned with business interests, aiming to take power by s…
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UNRWA @unrwa.org · 13/07/2026
In #Gaza, UNRWA continues to deliver critical public services at scale. Every week, our teams provide around 80,000 medical consultations, nearly 300,000 children access learning opportunities, and more than 1.5 million people rely on UNRWA for water, sanitation and hygiene services. #UNRWAworks
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 11/07/2026
The White House was never supposed to be a palace. George Washington and architect James Hoban deliberately rejected the lavish style of European monarchies. Instead, they designed a President’s House that reflected the ideals of a republic: dignified, restrained, and accountable to the people.
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David @rebelalliance77.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
That’s mad
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Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 09/07/2026
‘Shoot me, Just let my son pass’: Final moments of Palestinian Ahmad Zaid aje.news/mesd4r
‘Shoot me, Just let my son pass’: Final moments of Palestinian Ahmad Zaid
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CNN @cnn.com · 09/07/2026
The East 42nd Street building hasn't moved since Tuesday morning, but four nearby buildings remain evacuated, city officials said. Here's what we know about what will happen next. cnn.it/4eObAuQ
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Frank McDonald @frankmcdonald60.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Every word of this was true when Ashrawi first laid it out nearly 30 years ago, and it’s even more true today, with pogroms and land seizures by Israeli settler terrorists …
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 08/07/2026
Datacentres are a ticking time bomb. We must make sure AI’s benefits outweigh the costs | Nicki Hutley
theguardian.com
Datacentres are a ticking time bomb. We must make sure AI’s benefits outweigh the costs | Nicki Hutley
They suck up energy and water, and blast out heat. Just who is better off from all this investment – aside from tech bros?
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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
This is how you ask a question
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Frank O'Connor @frankoconnor.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
This is f*cked up A government that enables this will never solve the housing crisis because its not in their own interest
This is f*cked up
A government that enables this will never solve the housing crisis because its not in their own interest
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Frank McDonald @frankmcdonald60.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Cautionary tale from Scotland about the perils of “affordable” housing …
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CODEPINK @codepink.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya is in life-threatening condition in an Israeli torture prison. Dr Abu Safiya’s son says he can barely breathe or speak. Israel is torturing a Palestinian pediatrician because he refused to leave his patients behind.
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Kath @kathyburke.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
The Sunday Times today if you please. Thanks to all who purchased and especially for knocking Clarkson off the top spot. 🚜💥🥊 ♥️📚
Sunday Times paperback chart.
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Eamonn Sweeney @sweeneyagonistes.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
They go native so quickly these days.
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Middle East Monitor @middleeastmonitor.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Right to Breathe: Unfiltered Messages from Gaza to President Catherine Connolly by Dr Ramzy Baroud
middleeastmonitor.com
Right to Breathe: Unfiltered Messages from Gaza to President Catherine Connolly
I recently had the chance to send a message to the President of Ireland, Her Excellency Catherine Connolly. President Connolly is a vocal supporter of Palestine and remains one of the few European …
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Carlton Reid @carltonreid.com · 03/07/2026
Listed in period archives as “another document.” AI would never have found it. Physically rooting around in archives remains something that LLMs can’t do. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
‘Vanishingly rare’ copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives
One of 11 surviving copies of ‘Exeter printing’ and only one known outside US was taken from American privateer ship
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The Journal @thejournal.ie · 03/07/2026
Ciarán Cannon on SUVs: Research increasingly suggests larger vehicles protect their occupants at the expense of those outside them, so why are we letting them rule the roads? jrnl.ie/7080141
jrnl.ie
Ciarán Cannon: No small cars, saloons, hatchbacks... why have we allowed SUVs rule the roads?
Research increasingly suggests that bigger vehicles protect their occupants at the expense of those outside them, which does not bode well for Ireland’s road safety record.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
What would the Founding Fathers think about Trump? The Declaration of Independence gives us an idea. Watch.
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alexjungle.bsky.social @alexjungle.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
The stage is falling apart at the rehearsal for Freedom 250's July 4th celebration. wild
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Helen Shaw - Athena Media @athenamediaie.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Ireland facing €13 billion bill for ambition to fail on climate targets - quite a headline for day one of Ireland's EU Presidency - hard for Minister to dismiss fiscal watchdog as "environmental fundamentalists" #spéirghorm www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
irishtimes.com
Ireland faces €13bn annual bill by 2050 for missing climate targets
Congestion charges and distance-based road charges recommended by State’s fiscal watchdog
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Politico @politico.com · 01/07/2026
An anti-establishment avalanche buried two top Dems in Colorado, revealing the depth of the base's frustrations with Washington. Here's what democratic socialist Melat Kiros told us after toppling 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette to win the nomination👇 🔗 politi.co/3QQ6qoY
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Mike McKillen @mikemckillen.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
We will pay a dreadful societal price for this reckless decision. More ribbon development along rural roads flies in the face of #climatecrisis measures that need to be to the fore to reduce motor dependency. Delivery of ambulatory health care will suffer too as patients reside up boreens!
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John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @thinkorswim.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
“This is about throwing away the rule book”. Full podcast of last night’s discussion on @tonightvmtv.bsky.social around loosening the rules on one-off housing is now available (it starts exactly 22 minutes into clip below) open.spotify.com/episode/6FFr...
open.spotify.com
Tuesday 30 June: Fuel Costs And Rural Housing Shake-Up
The Tonight Show · Episode
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McGarr Solicitors @mcgarrsolicitors.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Simon McGarr was on The Echo Chamber @tonygroves.bsky.social discussing Jim O'Callaghan's proposal to let AI surveil the public and the law surrounding biometric data and AI in Ireland and the EU.
mcgarrsolicitors.ie
Humpty Dumpty's Wall of Biometric Bamboozlement and the AI Act | McGarr Solicitors
Simon McGarr appeared on The Echo Chamber podcast to discuss the law surrounding biometric data and AI in Ireland and in Europe.
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The famous "Wedges" paper was used repeatedly to shut us up when we argued against the continued use of fossil fuels, and, esp, against carbon capture and storage and the mass use of bioenergy. "But these eminent scientists say ..." Now we learn BP co-authored it. www.propublica.org/article/wedg...
propublica.org
How BP Execs Influenced a Climate Study That Shaped a Generation of Global Policy
BP sponsored an elite Princeton research center to address the climate problem without getting off fossil fuels. Its key work, a paper known as “Wedges,” guided climate discourse for a generation.
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Jay Hightman @jay.hightman.org · 28/06/2026
Trump posted himself as Atlas holding up the world, apparently unaware that Atlas wasn't a hero. He was a defeated enemy, condemned to eternal punishment for losing a war against the gods. He chose the image of a cosmic loser to represent himself!
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Time.
Shandon steeple with repaired clock and goldie fish against mostly blue sky.
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Melissa & Chris Bruntlett @modacitylife.com · 28/06/2026
What amazes us is how many of these benefits were never the explicit goal. Safer streets led to independent kids. More space for walking and cycling fostered stronger social connections and a greater sense of community. Unexpected gifts of a city treating cars as guests rather than guests of honour.
A series of photographs of the low-car streets and public spaces in Delft featuring overlay text explaining their qualitative benefits based on the book ‘Curbing Traffic’ by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett.A series of photographs of the low-car streets and public spaces in Delft featuring overlay text explaining their qualitative benefits based on the book ‘Curbing Traffic’ by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett.A series of photographs of the low-car streets and public spaces in Delft featuring overlay text explaining their qualitative benefits based on the book ‘Curbing Traffic’ by Melissa & Chris Bruntlett.
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Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
"blame the victim" (in this case, the french people who traditionally have not needed air conditioning) is a classic #NewClimateWar (bookshop.org/p/books/the-...) tactic.
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James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
And there it is… www.desmog.com/2026/04/30/r...
desmog.com
Revealed: Reform’s £24 Million from Fossil Fuel Interests
Reform UK has received £24 million from oil and gas interests, accounting for more than two thirds of its total income, DeSmog can reveal. Led by Nigel Farage, the party is calling for new North Sea o...
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Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
From 1925: a prediction that, as more people choose to drive to the countryside, cars will end up destroying the very beauty that people go to see.
This is a satirical cartoon titled "Motoring and Our Beautiful Countryside" by W.K. Haselden, published in 1925.It highlights the irony of motorists destroying the very scenic beauty they drive out to see by demanding infrastructure improvements.The panels demonstrate a progression from idyllic country lanes to suburban sprawl, with the final panel depicting a dystopian landscape dominated by wide roads and minimal greenery.
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
“In 2025 — yes, after the games — Parisians approved another referendum to pedestrianize and plant 500 additional streets, removing another 10% of Paris's on-street parking; about more 10K spots…no one calls these car-free streets, rather, they're rues-jardin— literally, garden streets.” #UrbanTruth
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Cool streets
Paris's school streets are effectively sculpting out instant parks in the locations where they'll provide immense public health benefits to the city's most vulnerable populations
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Elaine McGoff @elainemcgoff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I often hear the refrain that data centres in Ireland don't use that much water. But if that's the case, why then is it impossible to find the figures? If it's not a problem, show us the figures to prove it. The lack of transparency breeds mistrust. www.dublininquirer.com/does-irish-w...
dublininquirer.com
Does Irish Water even know how much water data centres are using?
Much of the debate around data centres has focused on electricity, but the gap in figures for their water use has started to draw more attention – and breed mistrust.
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
It would of course be expecting *far* too much for Danny Finkelstein to accept even the slightest shred of moral accountability...
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