For what it's worth, I set up the Bylines Network (@YorksBylines, @NE_Bylines, etc) in partnership with Byline Times as I hugely admired the kind of journalism they were doing... and wanted to recreate that locally all over the UK.
We support each in building community media. ✊
And @BylineTV? Yup, that's part of the community of Byline/Bylines media output too... growing incredibly fast on YouTube where they're developing a strong presence. We help them... and they help us.
Want to support them too? Drop in on their Patreon:
And finally... (can't believe I left it two days to add this)...
If you're supporting @BylineTimes, thne make sure you're also supporting the Bylines Network, or your most local publication. Citizen journalism and the local angle is vital:
2009: "[surfers against sewage] has spent the summer highlighting the inadequacies of the UK’s sewerage system, specifically with ... Stormwater Overflow drains (CSOs), culminating in the hard-hitting Panorama programme “Britain’s Dirty Beaches”"
I just interviewed Roger Hallam, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion.
Discussing the incident of the Insulate Britain protesters blocking a woman in tears trying to get to a hospital - he says he’d do the same.
… and he would block an ambulance.
/thread
That’s the shock part to get your attention.
This was a full 1h interview in which we thoroughly covered why he would be prepared for, even maybe welcome, protests to cause deaths. He says that happened in civil unrest movements of the past - only extreme levels are effective.
He also discussed how to break the system and remould it around citizen assemblies to make a power dynamic that is effective at bypassing entrenched power and engaging changes needed.
Keep an eye on The London Economic for more content from this interview.
Mess was started by Vote Leave campaigning with no written prospectus. “Leave SM/CU” was declared late. Messy. Then ERG nutcase pressures. Then Lancaster House speech baked inflexible positions.
You’re talking about a no-deal Brexit here, which would’ve instantly shafted “our science & tech agenda”.
It would’ve frozen all UK Horizon 2020 projects with UK as coordinator (issue wasn’t technically solved), wrecked future collabs, UK reputation [thread]
Also, there would have been instant cessation of data passing between UK and Single Market labs/sci teams. That’s because there would have been no contractual underpinning for data security.
There would also have been no deal on movement of experts/ qualification recognition…
Supplies of sensitive/dangerous/ biological substances would be put on hold (eg DNA or test samples that need chilled/ deep freeze transport) for lack of known regulation and insecurity around time to transport materials that require special shipping conditions…