John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 4h#Germany With an eye on parallel talks in Saxony-Anhalt, the local parliamentary caucus of the syncretic populist #BSW party in Brandenburg has today confirmed that it is open to co-operation with the far right #AfD. Throw in a few anonymous #CDU and this is where their national revolution starts. 000
Reposted by John Goddardwww.slowtravelberlin.com @slowberlin.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Some thoughts on last week’s bizarre pre-coalition agreement between Die Linke, the Greens and SPD - and Saturday’s demo. slowtravelberlin.substack.com/p/the-disapp... 092
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 10/10/2026#TRFC #SWA First visit to Prenton Park this season for the visit of Rochdale. From the whingers on X you would think #Tranmere played badly. No, we played well but summed it up that Conlon’s worldy was from outside the box and most inside it a comedy of errors. Too many draws to go up though. 020
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 09/10/2026#germanhistory Remembrance of Nazism as a national burden, monuments and landscapes as witnesses to an allegedly eternal German identity. Two recent #AfD #Bundestag motions illustrate how far-right concepts of history become parliamentary demands. … In #Germany, what was once taboo is now normal. 000
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 08/10/2026#my9albums Rough date order. No other significance except they were all significant 121
Reposted by John GoddardMartin Travis @martintravis.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Sunrise, with the sun emerging from behind the Woodchurch flats. 214812
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 07/10/2026#Russian henceforth banned in #Latvian schools. #German media glee is not a good look when one bears in mind that #Israel which has far greater reason to ban the German language has never done so. One third of Latvian citizens remain first language Russian speakers. At best, a stupid decision.tagesschau.de"Hallo" statt "Privjet": An Lettlands Schulen ist Russisch verbotenLettland will sich sprachlich stärker nach Europa orientieren - seit diesem Schuljahr darf Russisch an Schulen nicht mehr als Fremdsprache unterrichtet werden. Besonders populär wird stattdessen: Deut... 000
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Corrective to the sabre rattling of the likes of ISW. Now verified by the mainstream, the first Ukrainians who drew attention to this were abused vilely online. #Ukraine #busification 000
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 05/10/2026#Berlin #germanhistory ‘The occupation and subsequent clearance of Mainzer Strasse in Berlin’s Friedrichshain district in November 1990 represented one of the most intense street battles of postwar German history and marked a deep political and social rupture in recently reunited Berlin.’ 112
Reposted by John GoddardEmyr Wyn Jones @emyr-wyn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Red Squirrel feeding - for #SquirrelSaturday. Photographed last Spring in the grounds of Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick, Ireland. #ECK #redsquirrel #squirrel #sqrlpix #ColorADay #GreenSat #naturetherapy #naturephotography #ireland #irishwildlife 0436
Reposted by John GoddardDr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 01/10/2026' “Anything we can actually do we can afford.” It was that mentality that allowed the Attlee government to create the welfare state when debt was running at more than 250% of national income – more than double today’s level. ' www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comRightwing economic myths could derail Burnham’s project – to destroy them, look to Keynes | Larry ElliottBorrowing can be good, there is no such thing as the ‘nation’s credit card’, and, yes, you can buck the markets – as previous governments have shown, says Guardian columnist Larry Elliott 051
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 26/09/2026#Stolpersteine are 10cm square concrete cubes with a brass plate and inscribed dedication to a victim of Nazi persecution, usually placed at their last place of residence or work. Visit #Germany and chance is you will see one. In #Heidenau (Saxony) #AfD and #CDU councillors have banned them.tagesschau.deBildungsministerin Prien: "Verbot von Stolpersteinen ist Skandal"Stolpersteine erinnern an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus. Im sächsischen Heidenau sollen laut einem Beschluss des Stadtrats keine neuen mehr verlegt werden. Bundesbildungsministerin Prien spricht v... 001
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 19/09/2026#Germany Everything important about the #Berlin city election In a city where 85% pay rent, accommodation is by far most important. A further theme in the wake of the presumed Islamist attack on Christopher Street Day is inner security. Others are street cleanliness and car v cycle path policies.zdfheute.deBerlin-Wahl 2026: Alles Wichtige zur Wahl des AbgeordnetenhausesBerlin wählt am 20. September ein neues Abgeordnetenhaus. Lesen Sie hier alles über Umfragen, Kandidaten und Themen. 100
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 10/09/2026#babylonberlin The fifth and final series can now be viewed in the #ARD Mediathek (in German). Less euphoric first episode which is not surprising given that the day is 30th January 1933. On advance notice, a loose (as ever) adaptation of the 4th and 5th Gideon Rath novels of Volker Kutscher. 120
Reposted by John Goddardpasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 09/09/2026#OnThisDay in London's radical history: 150,000 oppose British Union of Fascists rally, Hyde Park, 1934. wp.me/p74yfw-erwp.meToday in London’s radical history: 150,000 oppose British Union of Fascists rally, Hyde Park, 1934.In 1934 Oswald Mosley’s small but active British Union of Fascists was increasing its activities. Mosley, an aristocratic ex-Tory MP, then Labour Party minister who had fallen under the spell of Mu… 01310
Reposted by John GoddardAbilu Tangwa. @abilutangwa.bsky.social · 09/09/2026A single bee visits 5,000 flowers a day. Without them, we have no food. Pesticides are killing them. No bees = No food = No future. Protect pollinators. 302588680
Reposted by John Goddardmartinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Children’s social care is starved of money but the businesses who profit from the care system are forking out almost £1,000 a ticket for a two day conference hosted by privatisation lobbyists at the Children’s Homes Association 235
Reposted by John GoddardMark White @markwhite61.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Different continent, same shit. 021
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 06/09/2026#Germany #SaxonyAnhalt The #AfD by its admission is national conservative. At best. In fact, the use of terms such as völkisch (‘blood and soil’ nationalism) and remigration points to fascism. But mainstream media polling day pushing of economic arguments won’t solve working class disillusionment.tagesschau.deLandtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt: Sorgen um Wirtschaft und steigende PreiseDie CDU kämpft bei der Wahl in Sachsen-Anhalt mit einer AfD im Höhenflug - und mit Gegenwind aus Berlin. Die Unzufriedenheit mit Kanzler Merz ist groß, die Beunruhigung bei Wählerinnen und Wählern auc... 100
Reposted by John Goddardwww.slowtravelberlin.com @slowberlin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026"The Berlin U-Bahn station Magdalenenstraße, on the city’s U5 line, is the stop most people take if they are visiting the nearby Stasi Museum. It features a remarkable series of hand-painted murals depicting scenes from German labour history” www.slowtravelberlin.com/the-gdr-mura... 0336
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 31/08/2026#Tories reshuffle #Großbritannien Die Konservativen haben ihren Finanzsprecher Mel Stride durch einen Befürworter des katastrophalen Haushaltsplans von Liz Truss aus dem Jahr 2022 ersetzt. Andrew Griffith setzt sich nun unter anderem für neue Bohrungen in der Nordsee ein. #GB #Rechtsruckbbc.co.ukMel Stride and Priti Patel replaced in major Tory reshuffleConservative leader Kemi Badenoch is shaking up her top team ahead of the party's conference in October. 000
Reposted by John GoddardMartin Travis @martintravis.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Birkenhead on a sunny Sunday morning. #HMHB #FrequentElectricTrains youtu.be/jeT6JmyrFnY?... 8544
Reposted by John GoddardEmyr Wyn Jones @emyr-wyn.bsky.social · 30/08/2026I'm going with @atlanticbirding.bsky.social’s Alt #BirdOfTheDay theme today, which is: #Blue; on the bird or in the scene Young Swallows on a blue beach hut in Frinton on Sea. #birds #ECK #BirdPhotography #Photography @whatbirds.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @bbappnews.bsky.social 46511
Reposted by John GoddardBirkenhead News @birkenheadnews.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Future Yard reveals launch series for new 600-capacity venue in Birkenhead www.birkenhead.news/future-yard-...birkenhead.newsFuture Yard reveals launch series for new 600-capacity venue in BirkenheadFuture Yard, Birkenhead’s pioneering community venue, has shared launch details including the first batch of artists from the inaugural Autumn/Winter Programme of the new 600-capacity crowdfunded live... 053
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Sad news. RIP. A true musician and songwriter. #dollyparton 010
Reposted by John Goddardmartinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Young care leavers dying early a 'national tragedy' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukYoung care leavers dying early a 'national tragedy'Those leaving care have a death rate around four times higher than the general population, a new review reveals. 022
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Thank you @news.sky.com A true scandal that our younger fellow care leavers are still experiencing this. #careleavers 000
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 23/08/2026“A completely normal summer” #Germany Interviewed yesterday on national tv (ARD-Sommerinterview), #AfD chair Tino Chrupalla also claimed that periods of rainfall had matched those without, contradicting a report of the German Weather Service (DWD) that rainfall since March has been below average.tagesschau.deDas ARD-Sommerinterview mit AfD-Chef Chrupalla im FaktencheckDer AfD-Vorsitzende Chrupalla war im ARD-Sommerinterview zu Gast. Viele Aussagen halten einer Überprüfung stand. Doch beim Thema Klimawandel lag er daneben, einige Aussagen zur Migration waren ebenfal... 010
Reposted by John GoddardNationCymru @nation.cymru · 19/08/2026Three chicks belonging to one of the UK’s rarest breeding birds have successfully fledged on the north Wales coast for the first time in over a decadenation.cymruRare Welsh birds celebrate first breeding success on coastline since 2012Nation.Cymru Staff Three chicks belonging to one of the UK’s rarest breeding birds have successfully fledged on the north Wales coast for the first time in over a decade. The Chough chicks were raised... 0154
Reposted by John GoddardEmyr Wyn Jones @emyr-wyn.bsky.social · 18/08/2026@robcrank68.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme today is #Mothers, any female bird. Here's a proud Mallard duck demonstrating great mothering skills: #birds #ECK #BirdPhotography #Photography #ukbirding @rspb.bsky.social @whatbirds.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @bbappnews.bsky.social 1434
Reposted by John Goddardmartinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 15/08/2026Reporting that a Cambridge professor is alleged to have faked his CV and committed plagiarism is legitimate . Making it THE national conversation with hundreds of articles in the space of a few days is not. This should not be difficult to understand. newscord.org/editorials/j...newscord.orgJason Arday told the press he was at his limit. It answered with 188 more articles. He is dead at 41.A full census of the 249 articles fifteen national outlets published about Jason Arday in 22 days, with the last day reconstructed hour by hour. Every article listed and linked. 1162
Reposted by John GoddardMartin Travis @martintravis.bsky.social · 12/08/2026It's noticeable how distressed the Sycamore and Beech trees are looking in Arrowe Park, due to the drought ,compared to the adjacent oak trees, I believe this is because they have wide but shallow root systems, which sit in the parched earth layer, whereas deep Oak roots can reach groundwater 🤔 7455
Reposted by John Goddardmartinbarrow.bsky.social @martinbarrow.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Out of town, over-budget and unregistered homes: The challenges facing children's social care Most of Sefton's cared for children live outside the borough while unregistered homes are used elsewhere across Merseyside. Report via The Southport Lead. southport.thelead.uk/p/out-of-tow...southport.thelead.ukOut of town, over-budget and unregistered homes: The challenges facing children's social careMost of Sefton's cared for children live outside the borough while unregistered homes are used elsewhere across Merseyside 014
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Cammell Laird 1907 FC Goal action from today’s great 2-0 home win against Squires Gate in front of 200 fans in the Rock Ferry sun at Kirklands. #birkenhead #rockferry #nwcfl 000
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 08/08/2026en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...en.wikipedia.orgInternational Cat Day - Wikipedia 000
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Interesting link and thread on those who refused to fight in World War One. #history #antiwar 010
Reposted by John GoddardNationCymru @nation.cymru · 06/08/2026I’ve never wanted people to learn Welsh because they resent another language. I’ve always wanted them to learn it because they fall in love with this one ✍️Doctor Cymraegnation.cymruEnglish Isn’t My EnemyStephen Rule, Doctor Cymraeg Every now and then, someone sends me a video and asks, “What do you think?” This week, it was a speech by New Zealand MP Tamatha Paul. If you haven’t seen it, Paul was arg... 0132
Reposted by John Goddardpasttensehistories.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social · 04/08/2026 #OnThisDay in London radical history, 1549, some boisterous Londoners went out en masse to demolish gardens built by rich folk on the 'suburban common fields' outside the walls of the City, to the north. wp.me/p74yfw-Fe 132
Reposted by John GoddardMartin Travis @martintravis.bsky.social · 04/08/2026#ThickTrunkTuesday Cedar of Lebanon, Bidston Hill, Birkenhead 3633
Reposted by John GoddardNationCymru @nation.cymru · 03/08/2026The Football Association of Wales has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid over his bungled effort to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investorswp.meFAW withdraws support for Gianni Infantino as FIFA presidentPress Association Sport Staff The Football Association of Wales has withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s re-election bid over his bungled effort to sell off stakes in the World ... 46013
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 02/08/2026#OTD 2/3 Aug 1944, the SS murdered the last Sinti and Roma in #AuschwitzBirkenau. Immediately before, 1400 assembled prisoners considered work capable were brought to camps at Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora. Today is the European Day of Remembrance of the Nazi genocide against #Sinti and #Roma. 000
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 01/08/2026#Germany #Fussball 24,000 at today’s preseason friendly between Dynamo Dresden and Union Berlin. #fcunion #berlin #sgd1953 100
Reposted by John Goddardollypunk.bsky.social @ollypunk.bsky.social · 24/07/2026Next...Dag Nasty-"Can I Say" '86 lp...as a 20 year old this album totally blew my mind! 40 years on, it still does! Just wonderful🔥🔥🔥 5292
Reposted by John GoddardTrojan Records @trojanrecords.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Trojan advert from July 1979 - can you spot your favourite track? #throwback 1114
Reposted by John GoddardMartin Travis @martintravis.bsky.social · 23/07/2026This morning's walk took me along Rock Ferry Esplanade, and on to Port Sunlight River Park. Cracking view of Liverpool City Centre from the summit. 3493
Reposted by John GoddardAmerican Historical Association @historians.org · 22/07/2026Growing up in Germany, Katharina Matro “was confronted with my country’s history without mercy. It’s made me a more informed citizen, a more politically aware citizen, a more critical thinker.” youtube.comTeaching with Integrity: Confronting a Nation's PastYouTube video by American Historical Association 2134
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 21/07/2026#Germany Yesterday’s annual commemoration at Berlin’s Bendlerblock of the failed attempt to kill Adolf Hitler on 20th June 1944 saw a confrontation between the great nephew of resistance member Dietrich Bonhoeffer and members of the far right #AfD. For Tobias Korenke, their presence was an affront.tagesschau.deGedenken an Hitler-Attentat im Bendlerblock - mit ZwischenfallDie Bundesregierung hat in Berlin an den Widerstand gegen die nationalsozialistische Gewaltherrschaft erinnert. Anlass ist der heutige Jahrestag des Attentats auf Hitler. Ein Kranz der AfD sorgte vor ... 010
John Goddard @johngoddard1962.bsky.social · 19/07/2026#OTD 19th July 1510 #Berlin mayor Hans Brackow pronounced judgement at the Neuer Markt against 51 Jewish citizens accused of host desecration. 38 were burned at the stake. Followed by the expulsion of all Jews from the Mark of Brandenburg until rescinded 30 years later. #Germany #history 031