Ian Kenway @iankenway@qoto.org

"The standard technique of privatization: defund, make sure things don't work, people get angry, you hand it over to private capital."
- Noam Chomsky #NHS

In the 1960s, the sugar industry funded its own research on the effects of sugar on health.

The results didn't look good - for them. Studies revealed a high-sugar diet may increase risks associated with heart attacks, strokes & certain cancers.

But... rather than share emerging findings, the study was curiously halted & the industry successfully shifted blame onto fats.

It took decades to widely link sugary diets to disease. It didn't have to. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/11/21/565766988/what-the-industry-knew-about-sugars-health-effects-but-didnt-tell-us #food #science

Hey everyone #newHere in the #NewYear,

have you heard about my webcomic "Contra Chrome"?

Aimed at non-techies, it takes an entertaining look under the hood of the world's most widely used browser and examines how Google’s ad-based business model has turned Chrome into a threat to privacy and democracy.

Take a look and download for free in seven languages!

👉 https://contrachrome.com

#privacy #infosec #Google #Chrome #comic #comics #webcomic #democracy #SurveillanceCapitalism

The tories are going to try and sell the NHS back to us with some kind of 'user initiative' to 'save and improve what is ours' that will be a US style insurance by another name, won't they?

'Long live democracy!' Brazil celebrates Lula's return as right-wing reign of Bolsonaro ends https://www.rawstory.com/long-live-democracy-brazil-celebrates-lula-s-return-as-right-wing-reign-of-bolsonaro-ends/

Two-thirds of Britons now support future referendum on rejoining the #EU after #brexit
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-poll-referendum-rejoin-eu-b2250813.html

Average household food bills have rocketed, extra red tape for businesses, weaker global influence, & less ability to control borders.

The E.U. also has to change. With strong U.K. devolved #wellbeing governments we’d have far greater influence to deliver #climate action.

#Cymru #Scotland #Ireland #England

No EU country has anything like this death-causing chaos. The #Tory Government is failing abysmally.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/01/up-to-500-deaths-a-week-due-to-ae-delays-says-senior-medic

Going beyond GDP - inclusive wellbeing & a positive future for #FutureGenerations

The Wellbeing Economy coalition - #Finland #Iceland #Scotland #Wales & #NewZealand expects to expand in the coming months, & aims to transform economies around the world to deliver shared wellbeing for people & the planet.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/26/well-being-these-countries-are-looking-beyond-gdp-and-economic-growth.html

#WellbeingEconomy - https://weall.org/about

#ClimateAction #nature

New Year, new way of communicating. Exciting!
We're a music charity and generally hold four concerts per year.

Our next is on 4th March, 'Passamezzo' – Historical music, dance and drama.

https://www.cwmdu-music.org.uk/events/2023/3/4/passamezzo

Many were happy like us to walk the roughly 2 km journey from the visitors’ centre but shuttle buses were also going up and down the stretch of road. It’s a little unfortunate that you can only get within about 50 m of the #monument but it’s still impressive.

This is a view looking approximately north west.

#MyWork #MyPhoto #CCBYSA #DSLR #Nikon #D7000 #Winter #SalisburyPlain #History #Culture #Archaeology #Science #Astronomy #Stoneage

Something is afoot with #copyright this #PublicDomain Day | John Naughton | The Guardian

The length of copyright is already ridiculously long.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/01/something-is-not-right-with-copyright-this-public-domain-day-conan-doyle

Many people now mix in crowded, poorly ventilated, indoor areas - few effective masks worn - if at all, vaccine waning, healthcare under extreme pressure.
@Join_ZOE UK latest:
🦠3,395,111 predicted with symptomatic #Covid19
🦠234,178 estimated new daily infections
#CovidIsNotOver

🚑🏥@AneurinBevanUHB issued a message on Friday, Dec 30 as many head out to celebrate New Year's Eve: 'Experiencing unprecedented demand across services with large numbers of patients presenting with respiratory #viruses including the flu and #Covid-19'.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/health-board-warning-new-year-25871229?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Found New Year's this year really hard. Because last year was so horrible and I really want to believe 2023 will be better, but I am semi convinced that the "it can't be any worse!" approach is probably wrong.

The #TreatyOfUnion was supposed to be a Voluntary Union between the two nations. The Parliament of Scotland signed the document in an Edinburgh cellar, while a mob roamed the streets above, trying to prevent its signing. Those riots lasted for 12 weeks. The signing was marred by bribery and corruption. Some Parliamentarians were threatened with a loss of property which they owned in England, under the Alien Act, which also affected trade between the two Nations. https://youtu.be/v9WTRjbn98Y

This afternoon we went to #DownHouse which was the residence of #CharlesDarwin. #EnglishHeritage have done a good job of restoring the house and opening it up to the public. You can see furnished parts of the house such as the study, bedrooms, drawing rooms and childrens’ and billiard rooms and so on.

#MyWork #MyPhoto #CCBYSA #Android #Winter #History #Science #Heritage

From the large garden, you can get a good view of the entire family house.

#MyWork #MyPhoto #CCBYSA #Android #Winter #History #Science #Heritage

Croatia becomes the 20th country to join the euro today.
These are the Croatian Euro coins that are now coming into circulation and being given as change in Croatian shops as the country says goodbye to the Kuna
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/2022/12/31/nikola-tesla-to-appear-on-coins-as-croatia-joins-the-euro/

First Minister Mark Drakeford says he believes the UK Government could collapse at any time and has told the Labour party in Wales to be prepared for a general election in the new year
https://nation.cymru/news/first-minister-reveals-welsh-labour-is-geared-up-for-snap-general-election/