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Margaret Gear (Yasp)

@yaspshetland.bsky.social
833 followers 539 following 161 posts

Semi-retired physiotherapist. Following the evidence on Covid, especially longer term sequelae and prevention of transmission.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Sally Witcher @salwitcher.bsky.social · 20h
This is brilliant! Masking can be fun ☺️
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Clinically Vulnerable Families 💙💜💗 @cvcev.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
❓️Which of these three graphs shows an increase that the public most urgently needs to be informed about❓️ 1. FLU 2. COVID 3. RSV
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
My latest roundup looks at 3 things from the past 10 days 1) public money and propaganda ahead of Midterms. 2) Hegseth’s remaking of the military from the inside and the sidelining of allies abroad. 3) a 7,000-year-old carving in the Arizona desert ruined by the Wall youtu.be/m7-E_x4Kp1U
youtu.be
Trump’s Midterms money, Hegseth's military, and a 7,000 year-old casualty
YouTube video by Professor Christina Pagel
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
From the new Private Eye
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Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Last year RFKJr and Trumps made wild claims about Tylenol and the risk in pregnancy of children developing autism that were not backed up by science in any way. This led to a drop in its use as women became anxious about risking their baby. Now researchers have looked at social media influence
cidrap.umn.edu
Tylenol use in pregnant women visiting ED dropped after Trump’s unfounded autism claim
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Sarah Kay @k-interarma.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
To the surprise of absolutely no one, but to their courage, victims of far-right figures arguing they are “protecting women and girls” from unknown and unseen particular threat from migrants are coming forward to tell their story of sexual and domestic abuse
theguardian.com
‘Bully in every way’: domestic abuse survivors say ex-partners behind far-right UK street patrols
Seven women share their stories to make people aware of patterns of violence behind anti-immigration street patrol movement
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Ian Johnson @mrianjohnson.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The BBC's Have I Got News For You, on this week's RAF Fairford security incident: "The suspects have all been released on bail to the surprise of Donald Trump, who exclaimed — 'How do you give bail to a terrorist?' Beats me Donald. How do you give the presidency to a sexual abuser?"
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Looks like there’s an mRNA vaccine against pneumonic plague. Eat your heart out, RFK Jr. advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Novel Bivalent mRNA‐LNP Vaccine for Highly Effective Protection against Pneumonic Plague
The study investigates mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines targeting Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. Combined F1+LcrV mRNA vaccination elicited robust immune responses and protected mice....
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Waiting for the WHO tweet “FACT: plague is not airborne; keep washing hands”. (Plague is airborne)
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Danielle Beckman @daniellebeckman.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The @islc-pais.bsky.social conference website has been attacked and hacked *again*. At some point, you have to ask: who benefits from repeatedly disrupting scientific communication about #LongCOVID? ⚠️ For now, please do not click any links sent from or through islc-pais.org Stay safe 🫂
ISLC PAIS Website page showing it is temporarily unavailable ISLC PAIS Website page showing it is temporarily unavailable
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
You have to get a very long way through this BBC report before you learn which party runs the council which took the decision to close all these nurseries www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
South Tyneside Council nursery closures decision 'devastating'
Councillors confirm that all 10 Stanley's nurseries in South Tyneside will close by July 2027.
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Margaret Gear (Yasp) @yaspshetland.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Some light relief
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Clinically Vulnerable Families 💙💜💗 @cvcev.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Credit to @barrygardiner.bsky.social MP for raising air quality in schools at the UN today. @london.gov.uk 's work is a welcome first step. But *all* children deserve clean air. 1/2
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Here's today's column on the astonishing, ongoing mistreatment of people with #ME/CFS. Please spread it far and wide: the only thing which can break the media's wall of indifference is seeing an article about the issue go viral. Thank you. 1/2 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Abandoned, dismissed and gaslighted: there is no excuse for the way ME sufferers have been betrayed | George Monbiot
Changes in guidance and science seem to have little impact on millions of devastated lives. It’s a social crisis playing out behind closed doors, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
🔥 This video is approaching 1 million views collectively across social media. Pretty please use this tool to write to your MP - whoever they are - it all counts. And then share this link everywhere to family, friends, groups —> www.europeanmovement.co.uk/contact-mp-a...
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Sally Witcher @salwitcher.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Global Framework for Action on Healthy Indoor Air is launched this evening in New York during UN Climate Change Week. It's been a privilege, & a fascinating (& a learning) experience, to be involved in developing it as one of 200+ Commissioners from 40 countries 🧵
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Clinically Vulnerable Families 💙💜💗 @cvcev.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Six months on, why hasn't there been action on clean air in healthcare? The Inquiry said air filtration should be prioritised across the UK. But it has slipped through the cracks of the government’s response. What happened - and what can YOU do? 👇
clinicallyvulnerable.org
The Inquiry called for clean air in healthcare. Six months on, where is it?
Opinion | 20th September 2026By Lara Wong, Founder and CEO, Clinically Vulnerable FamiliesChapter one of the Module 3 report, paragraph 1.105. Baroness Hallett writes that new hospitals should be desi...
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Wrong question. It isn’t so much a question of whether he can or can’t. It’s whether we WANT him to do so given how utterly corrupt and wicked Trump’s régime is. Would we WANT him to have a “strong relationship” with Hitler’s Germany. Isn’t is just WRONG? Fly under the radar maybe. At best
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Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 18/09/2026
Palantir think hiring Tom Watson is the way to the heart of the British people – and Andy Burnham. They’ve got a lot of data but it looks like they’ve got a lot to learn... www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/articl…
thetimes.com
Palantir hires Tom Watson to fight left-wing campaign against US firm
The tech giant, which holds several public sector contracts, hopes that hiring the former Labour deputy leader will buy it a hearing in the Burnham government
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Very nice to hear a sane voice from Piddington. Serious respect to this woman, who is apparently already being othered by more bigoted villagers.
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Margaret Gear (Yasp) @yaspshetland.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Please consider responding to this consultation, English pals 👇🏻
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
The Vertlartnic @thev.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Perhaps This Is The Exit Wave
An optimistic man
Headline:
Perhaps This Is The Exit Wave

Story by Mary Bellamy and Garl Swedespot

Photo from Adobe
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Sally Witcher @salwitcher.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
1/2 "There are currently no restrictions on the amount of money UK-based donors can give to political parties.". So, people. do we want a functioning democracy? Do we want politicians who represent the electorate or whoever hands them the biggest wad of money? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Ben Delo: Reform receives record £36m donation from cryptocurrency billionaire
Ben Delo's donation, the biggest single sum ever given to a political party in the UK, comes amid scrutiny of Reform's finances.
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Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
2.5 mins on the Cult of Trump - an arcade game, a throne, a ballroom youtube.com/shorts/k3pVJ...
youtube.com
A video game, a throne, and a ballroom: the cult of Trump
YouTube video by Professor Christina Pagel
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Really important from Ed Miliband. The Chief Rabbi’s position essentially means there can never be any criticism of Israeli government actions.
theguardian.com
Miliband defends sanctions on Israeli settlements and pushes back against chief rabbi’s criticism – UK politics live
UK foreign secretary ‘regrets’ Israel’s response to ban on trade with illegal settlements but ‘proud’ of his actions
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Inclusive New Normal @inclusivenew.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Yet still pro-graded exercise therapy, pro-CBT attitudes are still to be found among medical professionals who really should know better. Some powerful people really seem to want conditions like ME/CFS, Long Covid, etc to be psychological, due to lack of exercise, etc. They aren't.
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
At what point does ‘the masked men on the street have legitimate concerns’ and ‘Just Stop Oil/Palestine Action are terrorists’ become two tier policing?
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Ceri Turner 💚 😷 @ceri-turns.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
What a world we live in, that its considered a 'strong stand' to attempt to avoid trading with illegal settlements during a genocide. But... we can see from the reactions from Israel and Trump that its considered a significant move. So - well done Milliband. 👏🏻 🇵🇸 1
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Christopher Harborne - the Reform mega donor who gave Farage £5m - is suing ex-Reform deputy leader, Ben Habib. The particulars of claim have now been published. And we need to talk about them. 1/
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Danielle Beckman @daniellebeckman.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I also find it ironic billionaires chasing longevity while overlooking something as basic as clean air, despite evidence that multiple pathogens accelerate dementia and other neurodegenerative processes. Living longer is great. But what’s the point if your brain doesn’t come along for the ride?
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Gill Tavner @gilltav.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
For comparison www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
bbc.co.uk
Port of Dover: Arrests made as Insulate Britain blocks port
Queues form at Europe's busiest ferry terminal as Insulate Britain shift their protest from the M25.
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
🔴 NEW Reform UK Sting Broadcast by Channel 4 Confirms Years of Byline Times Warnings By @iainoverton.bsky.social Read below. ↓
bylinetimes.com
Reform UK Sting Broadcast by Channel 4 Confirms Years of Byline Times Warnings
The extraordinary footage echoes concerns raised by Byline Times over the sources and beneficiaries of money flowing into Farage’s party.
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
There you go. Absolutely gobsmacking. But mostly just incredibly embarrassing. bsky.app/profile/adam...
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
This is important too from @thenerve.news. If you read that viral news piece from one anonymous student reproduced in Unherd, Times & Telegraph & pumped out as FB/Insta ads, you need to read this. What Professor Jason Arday's students actually thought: www.thenerve.news/p/jason-arda...
thenerve.news
Students remember Jason Arday: ‘People would say how much they were looking forward to his classes’
A viral article by an anonymous student suggested the academic was a “terrible” teacher. Undergraduates at Durham, where he taught between 2019 and 2022, tell fellow alumna Michaela Makusha that their...
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
One of the first "outrageous" claims I saw as Jason Arday's media hounding unfolded was that he ran 30 marathons in 35 days! Wow! What a thing to claim! And the newspapers all suggested there was no evidence he actually did it. Well, they clearly didn't look very hard 🙄 🧵 1/26
Photo after Jason's final marathon taken from his archived blog showing Jason surrounded by supporters in orange charity t-shirts
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
NEW: I can't get this story out of my head. And I know I'm not alone. The attempt to cover up the complicity of the UK media's role in Jason Arday's death may be its sickest move yet. broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-jason-...
broligarchy.substack.com
The Jason Arday Reckoning
The attempts to cover up the complicity of the UK media’s role in his death may be its sickest move yet
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Clean Air Advocacy Ireland @cleanairie.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Did you hear the good news? A recent landmark study has reported an amazing development demonstrating the real-world impacts clean air can have on people's lives. www.qmul.ac.uk/news/latest-...
London's ULEZ linked to improved lung growth in children graphics
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Margaret Gear (Yasp) @yaspshetland.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
We need to show rightwing newspapers that actions have consequences. Add your name: goodlawproject.org/s/abb8a1
goodlawproject.org
Jason Arday: Demand a public inquiry now | Good Law Project
Commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
When I see commentators using terms like “DEI” I immediately suspect that they’re trying to ignite a US inspired (and maybe funded?) culture war here. Because the acronym used in the UK is EDI - equality, diversity, inclusion - linked to the equality act 2010. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/1...
legislation.gov.uk
Equality Act 2010
An Act to make provision to require Ministers of the Crown and others when making strategic decisions about the exercise of their functions to have regard to the desirability of reducing socio-economi...
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
This is what the billionaire press and many politicians were campaigning so hard to destroy. Their freedom to drive took precedence over our children's freedom to thrive. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
Researchers find capacity stunted by pollution restored after introduction of ultra-low emission zone
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Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
ULEZ has to stand as one of @london.gov.uk Sadiq Khan's finest achievements www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Children's stunted lungs show recovery in ultra low emission zone
Children's lung capacity caught up with their peers in less polluted areas once a clean air zone came in, a study shows.
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Margaret Gear (Yasp) @yaspshetland.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The most insightful piece I’ve read about Jason Arday. Carole Cadwalladr is the perfect commentator, having experienced similar media bullying herself. Essential reading for academics, journalists, institutions.
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Richard Sambrook @sambrook.eurosky.social · 16/08/2026
BBC’s coverage of Reform’s welfare plans is frankly bizarre. Headlines in Ten, leading on some radio networks. Reform are not even the official opposition and the plans have less credibility than Count Binface. Will BBC News do the same for Lib Dem and Greens policy two years out from an election?
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Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Happy 10 year anniversary of the best mic drop on Twitter. Hard to believe it’s been so long! Congrats @astrokatie.com

Katie Mack @AstroKatie
16h
Honestly climate change scares the heck out of me and it makes me so sad to see what we're losing because of it.

Gary P Jackson (RAT) @gary4205
@AstroKatie Maybe you should learn some actual SCIENCE then, and stop listening to the criminals pushing the #GlobalWarming SCAM!

Katie Mack @AstroKatie
@gary4205 | dunno, man, I already went and got a PhD in astrophysics.
Seems like more than that would be overkill at this point.
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
MP Watch @mpwatch.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
‘Unfortunately, the climate crisis requires concerted, difficult opposition to Trump and the fossil fuel industry, not just restrictions on tinfoil grills’ Back in the day we were exposing the covert machinations of climate denying MPs, Stewart Lee was one of the only public figures that got it
thenerve.news
Stewart Lee: We’re banning disposable barbecues, but we’re still drilling for oil? We really are cooked
Unfortunately, the climate crisis requires concerted, difficult opposition to Trump and the fossil fuel industry, not just restrictions on tinfoil grills
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
"This is not generosity. It is suicidal empathy" writes Robert Jenrick (Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08...) quotes in para 3 of the BBC report, with a link. "Suicidal empathy" is also the core phrase Elon Musk wants to popularise to promote remigration, political violence + civil war
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Reposted by Margaret Gear (Yasp)
THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 15/08/2026
NEW STEWART LEE column The climate crisis requires concerted global opposition to Trump and the fossil fuel industry, not just restrictions on corner shops selling grills www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
We’re banning disposable barbecues, but we’re still drilling for oil? We really are cooked. Stewart Lee on dealing with Trump and the fossil fuel industry
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Theo Priestley @theopriestley.net · 14/08/2026
A Professor can be hounded to death by the media for alleged plagiarism but tech companies can plagiarise on a worldwide scale and they’re left alone, celebrated for their “genius”…
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Steve Griffin @profstevegriffin.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Ultimately, he only beat a "joke" candidate 2:1 in the heartlands of his immigration-dominated power base... No wonder he didn't show up...again... www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5... Nigel Farage wins Clacton by-election that major parties boycotted - live updates - BBC News
bbc.co.uk
Nigel Farage wins Clacton by-election that major parties boycotted - live updates
The Reform UK leader won 22,239 votes while Count Binface came second with 9,455.
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Margaret Gear (Yasp) @yaspshetland.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
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