Jim Parkin @ParkinJim@qoto.org

#Queensland ##COVID light remains on green despite rising hospital admissions for the pandemic virus and #flu
-**If only** **we could have predicted that this could happen**. If there was just some pattern to it. Or some sort of history to it. Or some way of recording to see it was happening. Or some structured multicoloured warning system that would help alert us to prepare *before *we surged.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-07/covid-and-flu-hospital-admissions-on-the-rise-in-queensland/102446094

Yet another petition... but I think a potentially important one given human track record in buggering the planet up, and really going to town when mining companies are involved...
https://only.one/act/mining

Deep-sea mining is set to begin in 2023 and will cause irreversible destruction to our planet. Add your name to the urgent open letter against deep-sea mining, and help us prevent this tragedy before it begins. #DefendtheDeep

Utah wants to make gasoline cheaper but impose a new tax on electricity for EVs:

https://emoltzen.substack.com/p/utah-bill-raise-taxes-on-ev-charging

Embarrassed about what they are?
---
RT @davesumnersmith
Why do you imagine these @Conservatives are promoting themselves using green rather than blue & without using a party logo?
https://twitter.com/davesumnersmith/status/1637378084545478659

Just the head of the civil service calling the Prime Minister "nationally distrusted" less than a year after his election.
Despite this Johnson remained PM for the best part of two more years.

The really annoying thing about Hancock's leaked Whatsapp messages is that we are only seeing what the telegraph wants us to see.

Imagine if those messages were actually in the public domain.
We'd hear the dirt on the politicians they are currently protecting.

"Matt Hancock plotted to try and oust Sir Simon Stevens, a longtime thorn in the government’s side, from his role as the head of the NHS in England, the former health secretary’s leaked messages reveal."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/05/hancock-plotted-to-oust-nhs-england-chief-simon-stevens-whatsapp-leak-shows

When justice miscarries

Human rights court to consider whether former prisoners should receive compensation

New piece on my Substack blog

https://rozenberg.substack.com/p/when-justice-miscarries-4f9

We're urging MPs to support an amendment to bring housing associations under the Freedom of Information Act.

The amendment to the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill whose report stage is today has been tabled by shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook MP supported by Rebecca Long-Bailey and Caroline Lucas.
The amendment was drafted by the Greater Manchester Law Centre.

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3177/stages/17181/amendments/10005504

#FOI #FOIA #freedomofinformation #socialhousing #ukpolitics

@CyclingJourno

If the state is no better than the murderer, then how is it fit to pass judgement on anyone?

@FrancisHayden1 I run the risk. I made a direct video appeal to Keir Starmer on Twitter before conference the year before last. The vast majority of ordinary members want PR. The Union block vote scuppered that. I shall stick to my guns. If they want to expel me, then there are tens of thousands of others like me, and they know it.

***UK POLL***
When you come to vote in any forthcoming UK elections, do you intend to stay loyal to your political party of choice, or will you vote tactically in order to secure the government you would prefer?
Please vote, comment, and REBLOG for larger response.
Thank you.
Should be interesting.

How a Dutch "Dementia Village" Improves Quality of Life with Intentional Design

https://www.openculture.com/2022/08/how-a-dutch-dementia-village-improves-quality-of-life-with-intentional-design.html

Britain Predicts — model update

LAB: 424 MPs (+222)
CON: 138 (-227)
SNP: 42 (-6)
LDEM: 22 (+11)

Drilldown:
sotn.newstatesman.com/2022/11/britai…

[Tactical voting not accounted for (update coming soon!)]

Welp, first full-time writer I know has just lost an income stream as a website they work for has switched to ChatGPT.

Yes, I know, it sounds ridiculous and made-up, but this is a real person.

Copywriting pay has been dropping in real terms for decadesas publication across the board becomes less economically viable. Under those conditions, it becomes increasingly likely that sites will go for cheap quantity over well-paid quality.