“What really alarms me about the 'War on Terrorism' is the grammar. How do you wage war on an abstract noun? How is 'Terrorism' going to surrender? It's well known, in philological circles, that it's very hard for abstract nouns to surrender”#TerryJones #911Anniversary#911attack
"As the clouds of tear gas lift, a clearer picture has emerged which shows police used excessive force against largely peaceful protesters, journalists & even children."
#Macron’s announcement that he plans to set up an independent body to investigate complaints against the police is something @amnesty have long been calling for
But amid the rest of his announcements at #BeauvauDeLaSecurite, it feels like window dressing
1/. “Today’s hearing didn’t focus at all about the allegations against #PrinceAndrew”
His lawyer - a man who defended Armie Hammer & several high profile #MeToo defendants - argued Andrew hadn’t been served with the papers...despite evidence that he had.
2/. “He’s clearly just making Virginia’s lawyers jump through every possible hoop."
In a sign that his delaying tactics are not likely to work, the judge told #PrinceAndrew’s lawyer: “I think we’re making this a lot more complicated than it really is”.
#BREAKING: Shocking internal @Facebook documents revealed by @WSJ show that the company has built a system which exempts high-profile users from some or all of its rules, allowing them to post potentially harmful content without consequence. google.co.uk/amp/s/www.wsj.…
“These allegations show how Facebook’s platform fuels the spread of harmful & abusive content. The fact these internal documents seem to contradict assurances they've given calls into question how much we can trust what they say" @amnesty's @AgnesCallamardamnesty.org/en/latest/news…
"If we prioritize truth over lies, tolerance over prejudice, empathy over indifference & experts over ignoramuses - maybe we can stop the greatest propaganda machine in history, save democracy, & still have a place for free speech" @SachaBaronCohen@adladl.org/news/article/s…
“Down the stream the swans all glide;
It's quite the cheapest way to ride.
Their legs get wet,
Their tummies wetter:
I think after all
The bus is better”
These two cygnets riding on their mothers’ back stay warm & dry.
2/. The two cygnets riding on their mother’s back (‘Uber Swan’ 😂) were part of a ‘litter’ of nine that hatched in May
Mute swans - the white swans most commonly seen in the UK - will hatch up to 10 eggs but not all cygnets will survive to adulthood.
3/. This video shows the same swan family on Hampstead Heath in June
Only 6 cygnets had survived their first six weeks
They may have been lost to crows, herons, magpies, gulls, foxes etc
One fishermen told me that he’d seen one of them “taken by a pike”
Since 2011, 6.6 million Syrian have fled violence & repression, seeking refuge abroad
Tmw, @amnesty are publishing a major new report detailing the brutal reception awaiting refugees when they arrive back in #Syria
For a copy press@amnesty.org
“I had nightmares, hallucinations. I’d wake up crying. The nerves of my right hand are damaged as are some of the discs of my back” (Karim, tortured by Syrian forces on his return)