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Jan O’Neill

@jandel.bsky.social
516 followers 2.9K following 63 posts

Retired educational psychologist

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Reposted by Jan O’Neill
Matthew Shadle @matthewshadle.bsky.social · 14h
Catholic Archbishop for the Military Services with pastoral responsibility for US soldiers issues statement saying Catholic military personnel are morally obligated to refuse to participate in a potential livestreamed execution of Nidal Hasan. www.milarch.org/archbishop-b...
milarch.org
Archbishop Broglio Issues Statement on Proposed Execution Livestream - Archdiocese for the Military, USA
Archbishop Broglio has issued a statement on the proposal to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad.
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 23h
Stupid, sickening and - frankly - deranged www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Ministers preparing to slash heat pump subsidies to fund defence spending
Exclusive: Some of £2bn savings needed from energy budget expected to come from boiler upgrade scheme, sources say
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Public executions were not abolished out of tenderness towards the criminal. They were abolished because of the effect on the people watching, and the dangers of making human death a source of commercial entertainment. Here's Charles Dickens in The Times, after witnessing an execution in 1849.
"I have seen, habitually, some of the worst sources of general contamination and corruption in this country, and I think there are not many phases of London life that could surprise me. I am solemnly convinced that nothing that ingenuity could devise to be done in this city, in the same compass of time, could work such ruin as one public execution, and I stand astounded and appalled by the wickedness it exhibits. I do not believe that any community can prosper where such a scene of horror and demoralization as was enacted this morning outside Horsemonger Lane Gaol is presented at the very doors of good citizens, and is passed by, unknown or forgotten. And when in our prayers and thanksgivings for the season we are humbly expressing before God our desire to remove the moral evils of the land, I would ask your readers to consider whether it is not a time to think of this one, and to root it out.

I am, Sir, your faithful Servant.
Charles Dickens".
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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
If Americans view, clip, share, and permanently enshrine an American public killing in a million ways on the internet, we will move towards fascist rituals of violence. snyder.substack.com/p/four-wrong...
snyder.substack.com
Four Wrongs of a Public Execution
Psychological, Historical, Political, and Ethical (Video and Text)
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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
POPE LEO: “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment…”
Pope Leo XIV 
@Pontifex
X.com
The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.
The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment: effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption. #NoDeathPenalty
6:30 AM • 10/10/26 • 217K Views
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𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐎'𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐒.𝐉. @kohsj.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-c...
vaticannews.va
Cardinal Parolin on US public execution: Death must not be turned into a spectacle - Vatican News
Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Rome on John Henry Newman, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin comments on plans to livestream the ...
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Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
And “Every combustion car and every gas boiler sold today leaves us exposed for 15 years to the next oil crisis. And each new industrial facility that runs on fossil fuels consolidates an import-dependent infrastructure for decades."
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alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social @alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
It is deeply regrettable that the US has announced intentions to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). It The EU will work closely with the ICC to ensure it continues to operate effectively. ec.europa.eu/commission/p... #DonaldTrump #MakeAmericaSmall #Dictator #RuleOfLaw
ec.europa.eu
Joint Statement at the second meeting of the EU-China Trade and Investment Consultations
On 8-9 October 2026, Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of China, and Maroš Šef\u010Dovi\u010D, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, of the Europ...
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martinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
New partnership to provide Appropriate Places of Care homes for children and young people in Cheshire and Merseyside www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/posts/new-pa...
cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk
New partnership to provide Appropriate Places of Care for children and young people in Cheshire and Merseyside
A new partnership between the NHS and local authorities across Cheshire and Merseyside will provide more appropriate care for children and young people with complex needs.
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National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 09/10/2026
👋 Say hello to the stars of your new bank notes! After a public vote which saw over 2.5 million responses, the Bank of England have revealed the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, European hedgehog and buff-tailed bumblebee will appear on redesigned notes over the coming years.
A close-up of a puffin. A small bird with a black back, white front and brightly-coloured beak.A close-up of a bee on flowersA hedgehog walks through a woodland floor at nightTwo brown and white barn owls on a wooden perch
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António Costa @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu · 09/10/2026
We have a responsibility to uphold international law. The EU is fully committed to the independence of international justice. We urge the United States to use the coming months to engage in dialogue. We will continue support the ICC and to protect its members and staff.
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Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 09/10/2026
Switzerland reaffirms its support for the ICC as an independent and impartial judicial institution.
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Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Pope: “In every age, there is no shortage of false teachers who exploit the religious sentiments of many believers for their own interests, often pushing them to radicalize certain aspects of the teaching they have received at the expense of the whole — the whole, which is Christ and his Gospel.”
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Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
That's a very high proportion of people who find out what the real state of play is with climate change, who then think "Christ we should really do something about that" www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Britons kept in dark about scale of climate crisis, say viewers of ‘first-of-its-kind’ emergency briefing
Nine out of 10 people felt motivated to act after watching film outlining threats to food security, economy and public health
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Massimo Faggioli @massimofaggioli.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
the Catholic Church and the death penalty
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Christopher Hale @christopherjhale.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
“Intelligence must draw on memory. The mind must not simply compile data — as an algorithm now does more quickly than we can — but recall lived experiences, which contain depths of meaning that only the human soul can recognize.” — Pope Leo XIV
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ebisback.bsky.social @ebisback.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Pretty Awesome 👍
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King's College London @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Could an off-the-shelf gadget be an early-warning tool for wildfires? Researchers @kings-sga.bsky.social converted a gadget into a scientific instrument that could offer a low-cost way for farmers & fire services to monitor wildfire risk & spot crop drought stress. www.kcl.ac.uk/news/scienti...
kcl.ac.uk
Scientists turn £70 gadget into wildfire early-warning tool | King's College London
A modified cheap handheld car gadget could offer a low-cost way for farmers and fire services to monitor wildfire risk and spot crop drought stress.
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Jan O’Neill @jandel.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I've signed. Will you? Add your name to help make wildfire prevention and climate resilience a national priority, and stand with the communities affected by wildfires. campaigns.nationaltrust.org.uk/page/196457/...
campaigns.nationaltrust.org.uk
I've signed. Will you? Add your name to help make wildfire prevention and climate resilience a national priority, and stand with the communities affected by wildfires.
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John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 08/10/2023
On 8th Oct 1952 the worst civilian rail disaster in UK history happened in London. 112 deaths. 340 wounded. That accident, and the actions of one woman from Florida have saved THOUSANDS of lives since. That disaster helped lead to the creation of paramedics. /1 🧵 www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU60...
youtube.com
Harrow and Wealdstone Train Crash Newsreel
Newsreel footage of the aftermath of the 1952 Train Crash at Harrow & Wealdstone Station, which claimed the lives of 112 people and injured hundreds more.
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Tim Harford @timharford.ft.com · 07/10/2026
AI Lessons from your affectionate uncle, SCREWTAPE as.ft.com/r/22fd925a-3...
as.ft.com
How AI tempts the lazy mind
The real risk of generative artificial intelligence is not that we will trust it completely, but that we will stop caring enough to check
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Is there a 'war on the countryside'? Yes - but it's the one being waged by the landowners who unleash 50 million pheasants each year... Step forward 'Lord' Christian Brighty to explain, in this devastating (and hilarious) video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFi8...
youtube.com
The Real Threat to Britain’s Countryside
YouTube video by Christian Brighty
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Public and Commercial Services Union @pcsunion.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The government is increasingly realising how damaging outsourcing has been, says PCS GS Fran Heathcote in an article for Civil Service World. She says that there are 100s of contracts where outsourced workers get a raw deal. Insourcing is the way forward www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
civilserviceworld.com
The government is increasingly realising how damaging outsourcing has been
There are hundreds of contracts where outsourced workers are getting a raw deal. Insourcing is the way forward
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History and Heritage Yorkshire @handhyorkshire.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
the salary. The debate about childcare should therefore focus on fairness, affordability and supporting families, not on suggesting that wealth is proof of greater effort.
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StrictlyChristo 🇺🇦🌻 @strictlychristo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Sir Ian McKellen orates 'The Stranger's Case' from 'Sir Thomas More' by Shakespeare about the Evil May Day xenophobic riot of 1517 in London. This passage was written 400 years ago, but times never change. Humanity refuses to change its unwarranted bias against 'others'.
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Christopher Hale @christopherjhale.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Pope Leo XIV asked that question at a Vatican conference on AI last December. This week the New York Times reported that Anthropic spent months wining and dining theologians, hoping they would bless the idea that Claude has moral standing.
thelettersfromleo.com
NYT: Anthropic Nearly Walked Out on Pope Leo XIV’s AI Encyclical — Then Lobbied His Advisers
Chris Olah saw an advance copy of Magnifica Humanitas days before the Vatican launch and proposed withdrawing over its stance on machine consciousness. The pope held his ground.
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Fergal @fergalc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This is just a sentence that gets progressively more fabulous with each word
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Moley𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕄𝕠𝕝𝕖 @moleymole.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
National Trust Members - reminder to endorse the Trust’s charitable work and keep out the Private Equity vultures by voting online for the Annual General Meeting. Voting closes at the end of this month (October). 😇
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Marc Owen Jones @marcowenjones.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Source www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...
theguardian.com
New Google Maps images reveal massive scale of devastation in Gaza
Satellite imagery shows further destruction of homes, businesses and places of worship since fragile ceasefire
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Pete Miles @petermiles.eurosky.social · 29/09/2026
I've added my name... (And fyi it took me about 10 seconds) action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/201578/...
action.electoral-reform.org.uk
The PM used his big speech to promise to fix Westminster's broken voting system.
We've heard promises before. I've signed to make sure this one is kept. It takes 30 seconds
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Ben Gartside @bengartside.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This is the second part of our investigation into TPP. You can read part 1 here: theexchange.news/tpp-systmone...
theexchange.news
TPP is Leeds’ biggest tech company. But coroners are concerned about its flagship product
A prison GP has described SystmOne as an ‘absolute nightmare’ and coroners' reports reveal recurring issues
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gamera obscura october edition @ohrobin.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Google earth has updated its satellite images of Gaza. The destruction is almost incomprehensible.
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𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐎'𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐒.𝐉. @kohsj.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
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martinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Polaris is owned through a company called Nutrius Topco UK Ltd. In turn, Nutrius owes its parent company £126 million.
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Pontifex maximus at the Élysée Palace in Paris this morning, talking once more about AI and the moral crisis it presents
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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I watched this last night. It's terrifying, but hopeful. I feel it's my duty, as a human, to share it. I'd appreciate it if you shared it too. It's specifically made for people in the UK, but it's about everyone, and, the more people see it, the better chance we'll have. www.nebriefing.org/the-film
nebriefing.org
National Emergency Briefing
A 50-min film centred around the National Emergency Briefing. The frank facts, but also the huge opportunity if Government steps up and leads a WW2-scale response. Designed to be watched by communitie...
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Guardian Environment @environment.theguardian.com · 25/09/2026
Friday briefing: How a ​grassroots ​film ​is ​turning ​climate anxiety ​into ​action
theguardian.com
Friday briefing: How a ​grassroots ​film ​is ​turning ​climate anxiety ​into ​action
In today’s newsletter: The People’s Emergency Briefing delivers a stark warning about ​o​ur future in a warming world. ​B​ut sharing difficult truths collectively​ shows us that there is still hope to be found
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Climate News @climatenews.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Benedict Cumberbatch presents How to Live on Earth. “Living on Mars would be horrible. Let’s try to live on Earth.”
youtu.be
How to Live on Earth | Feature Documentary | Presented by Benedict Cumberbatch
YouTube video by Open Planet
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History of Parliament @histparl.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
David Olusoga's new series Finding Britain's Slave Traders airs tonight at 9pm. In anticipation, we are resharing an article from Dr Michael Taylor on the West India Interest, the pro-slavery lobby in Parliament, where many members had a vested interest in the continuation of slavery.
historyofparliament.com
The West India Interest and the Parliamentary Defence of Slavery, 1823-33
This blog, which explores the parliamentary context of the abolition of slavery, is based on Michael’s full-length seminar paper, ‘The West India Interest and Colonial Slavery in Parliament,…
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North East Bylines @northeastbylines.co.uk · 17/09/2026
Prisoners at HMP Kirklevington Grange, near Yarm, are building new cells and learning new skills at the same time | Peter Morris
northeastbylines.co.uk
Prisoners turn builders to tackle overcrowding and prepare for release
Prisoners at HMP Kirklevington Grange, near Yarm, are building new cells and learning new skills at the same time
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Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Pope Leo: Gaudium et Spes “helps us all to engage in personal and communal discernment, so that we may responsibly evaluate today’s social and political projects, based on the criteria of the dignity of the human person, social justice and free participation in constructing the common good.”
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Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Nostra aetate, 60 years on: Church renews dialogue against hatred and division www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-c...
vaticannews.va
Nostra aetate, 60 years on: Church renews dialogue against hatred and division - Vatican News
On the 60th anniversary of 'Nostra aetate', which opened a new chapter in relations between Catholics and believers of other faiths, three Vatican ...
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Forever @msforeverwondering.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
If you're angry about the £72 million funding to Reform. Please follow the link to have your say.
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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
If you feel like donating to the RNLI, here’s a link. I just have. Their minimum donation is £2: I think it might be nice for them to receive a lot of donations this week, even if they’re mostly very modest. Just so they know a lot of people out here appreciate their work. rnli.org/support-us/g...
rnli.org
Donate to the RNLI and help save lives at sea
Your donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here.
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Leigh Jones @leighsus.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A new feature documentary is coming out next month about a Hartlepool fisherman taking on Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen after hundreds of thousands of dead crustaceans washed up on north east beaches. They've just released the trailer...
youtube.com
🦞 ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA - a film by Jeanie Finlay. OFFICIAL TRAILER 🦀
YouTube video by Jeanie Finlay
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Elle Cordova @ellecordova.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I am the very model of a modern day typographer A font take on the tune “Modern Major General” by Gilbert & Sullivan #typography #fonts #graphicdesign
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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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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This seems like a useful policy to support.
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Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Bill Bryson on the RNLI in "The Road to Little Dribbling : more notes from a small island" (2015)
I had never really stopped to consider what an extraordinary thing the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is. Think about it. A troubled ship calls for help, and eight people - teachers, plumbers, the guy
who runs the pub - drop everything and put to sea, whatever the weather, asking no questions, imperilling their own lives, to try to help strangers. Is there anything more brave and noble than that? The RNLI - I looked this up later - is an organization run by volunteers, supported entirely by public donations. It maintains 233 stations around the coast of Britain and averages twenty-two call-outs per day. It saves 350 lives a year on average.
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