Notices by ProjectFearlessness (projectfearlessness@mastodonapp.uk), page 3

What's happening in Gaza right now is a brutal, unequal conflict where both sides are committing atrocities and war crimes. The international community should be actively working towards an immediate ceasefire.

Why are governments taking sides? Do they think it's a football match?

#Ceasefire
#Gaza

I'm not sure if this makes it better or worse for us in the U.K., but we're not alone in having a right wing government cancelling plans for high speed rail upgrades in favour of cars. Sweden have been going through the exact same thing recently. It's so close to what Sunak is doing that it looks like he's just ripped off their ideas.

https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/economy-and-ecology/swedens-climate-policy-is-off-the-rails-7029/

In Sweden, the right wing government cancelled long awaited plans for a high speed rail network, and promised to spend the money upgrading the existing rail network. At the next budget, the money that was due to go on the rail network was allocated to the motorways instead.

Just a heads up for those of us in the U.K. wondering if we can trust our own right wing government's latest promises to upgrade the existing rail network.

#UKPolitics

Reminder to U.K. 'Motorists'

When Rishi Sunak says he's on your side, what he means is that he's going to cancel loads of public transport projects, forcing more cars on to the roads and making all your journeys even more congested and miserable than they already are.

You'll be stuck in a traffic jam, but, please, do enjoy the freedom Sunak has given to you.

#UKPolitics
#HS2

Jailed Iranian Human Rights Activist Narges Mohammad is announced winner of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.

"For her fight against the oppression women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all."

#NargesMohammadi
#WomanLifeFreedom

In the U.K., PM Sunak has announced the cancellation of the HS2 high speed rail link from Birmingham to Manchester.
There has been a lot of focus on what this means for Manchester, but it's worth remembering this will affect the whole of the rail network.
The HS2 website is still up, and you can look wryly at the original plans for European fastest high speed train network that will connect everywhere from London to Edinburgh.

It's not just about Manchester.

#HS2

https://www.hs2.org.uk/

Here in Manchester, we're waiting for confirmation that Rishi Sunak is as monumentally dumb as to use his conference speech, in Manchester, to announce the scrapping of the HS2 high speed rail link, to Manchester.

#UKPolitics
#HS2
#MCR

LIVE: HS2 to Manchester to be scrapped, according to reports - latest updates

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/breaking-hs2-manchester-scrapped-according-27826808#ICID=Android_MENNewsApp_AppShare

In the U.K. Sacha Lord, business advisor and spokesperson for the self employed, has rented the biggest digital advertising board in Manchester, right outside the conference centre for the entire duration of the Tory Conference.

Rishi Sunak- "I ignored 3.8 million self employed people during the pandemic, because the didn't vote Tory."

#UKPolitics
#Manchester

U.K. Government greenlight huge Rosebank North Sea oil field.

"There are strong grounds to believe that the way this government has come to this decision is unlawful and we will see them in court if so."

"We shouldn’t have to fight this government for cheap, clean energy and a livable climate, but we will.”

Tessa Khan,
Uplift,
U.K.

#ClimateAction
#KeepItInTheGround

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-greenlight-rosebank-oil-field-development-plan-north-sea-climate-criticism/

In the U.K. the Conservative government have just given the go ahead for Rosebank, a huge new oil field in the North Sea that is thought to be capable of producing over 500 Million barrels of oil.
This is not the end of the story. Legal challenges are planned. Also, the Labour party have pledged to stop Rosebank if they get in power, and we need to hold them to that pledge. No backtracking, no financial excuses, it just can't be allowed to happen.

#ClimateAction
#KeepItInTheGround

@aral
Check yourself. What did or didn't happen is lost in history, but to state it as fact, like you just did, is dangerously close to Islamaphobia. I'm not impressed.

Yesterday, August 15th 2023 was the 2 year anniversary of the Taliban's return in Afghanistan.
It has been the darkest 2 years for Afghans, but they haven't given up. Yesterday there were calls for action, everywhere.
I'm going to be putting them in this thread, over the next few weeks as a reminder not to forget Afghanistan.
To start, kites were flown by Afghans and friends in London as an act of defiance. Even kites are banned in Afghanistan.

#ForgottenAfghans

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/15/colourful-kites-fill-london-sky-in-solidarity-with-people-of-afghanistan

On the 2 year anniversary of the Taliban's return to Afghanistan, Afghan refugee and head of the Scottish Refugee Council Sabir Zazai delivers a powerful message.

We must not forget about Afghanistan.

#RememberAfghanistan
#ForgottenAfghans

🧵2

https://scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/afghanistan-kabul-anniversary-uk-government/

"In Afghanistan, it has been two long years of constant loss, and two full years of fighting back using the few resources left to combat the Taliban's ruthless misogyny. In the face of brutal Taliban reprisals, they have adopted new forms of resistance, such as leading movements and protests from inside their homes to raise international awareness. Two years have passed since activists first began chanting."
"Bread, Work, Freedom,"

Sahar Fetrat

#RememberAfghanistan

🧵3
https://www.newsweek.com/bread-work-freedomafghan-womens-two-years-resistance-opinion-1819659

During the prophet Mohammed's time, women were scholars, educators, business owners, activists, preachers, surgeons, even warriors. They were active in all areas of public life.

Mohammed supported all of them, even marrying some of them so they could continue in their work.

Only one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, chose to stay at home.

Can you guess which female from Mohammed's time the Taliban choose to base all their 'Islamic' doctrines on?

🧵4

https://www.rferl.org/amp/taliban-girls-education-islam-takeover-anniversary/32546094.html

Resistance Grows to Morality Police in Iran.

"I discreetly capture a photo of a woman officer. The man notices me and calls on his colleague to seize my phone.

I calmly say that I’m a lawyer. I remind the officer that conducting a search without a warrant would have serious repercussions. I say that he has no authority to touch me or my phone.

"Why were you taking pictures of us?"

"Have you done something wrong that you fear being monitored?"

No response.

#Iran

https://iranwire.com/en/features/118813-is-it-war-morality-police-are-out-in-force-in-tehran/

"I wonder if the media have realised it yet - we were right. The hippies were right. Extinction Rebellion were right. Insulate Britain were right. Just Stop Oil are right. You’ve screwed up in the most serious way possible. You should have listened to the scientists."

Matthew Todd,
Journalist,
UK.

#ClimateEmergency
#ClimateAction

"Gabon is 88% covered by tropical rainforest. We have maintained deforestation below 0.1% over 5 decades and net absorb over 100m tonnes of CO2 annually. Few countries are doing more for the planet.

Developed nations, particularly the UK, the origin of the Industrial Revolution, have to do the heavy lifting – but they make false promises and fail to provide true leadership or even honour their modest financial commitments.”

Lee White,
Environment Minister,
Gabon

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/04/revealed-uk-plans-to-drop-flagship-climate-pledge-rishi-sunak

"England is one of the few countries in the world where water is fully owned by private companies. These companies answer to investors based thousands of miles away from their customers."

"About 10% is known to be owned by English investors, while about 72% is owned by overseas investors and 18% is unaccounted for."

“What we have here is just a crazy system. We are managing our water in the interests of offshore investors.”

Kate Bayliss,
University of London.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2022/nov/30/englands-water-the-worlds-piggy-bank

@lisae @rkd993
I took that as meaning that everybody should have equal footing here on Mastodon with no prejudices based on race or gender. Neutral as in unbiased.