1/. In 2018, Zak Kostopoulos - a queer activist & human rights defender - was brutally beaten up by 2 men in central Athens

Footage shows 4 policemen violently attempting to arrest Zak while he lay dying on the ground

Today is the last day of the trial
amnesty.org/en/latest/camp…
2/. More than three years after #ZakKostopoulos was kicked to death in broad daylight in the middle of Athens, today’s decision will have widespread implications which go far beyond the #LGBTIQ community.

@AmnestyGreece are in court ahead of the verdict. theguardian.com/world/2020/dec…
3/, "Justice in Greece isn't blind. But they must think that we are" (Zak Kostopoulos)

“There's a picture of Zak with open arms & a sign in front of his chest that read 'free hugs'. That’s who Zak was. He had a big heart, a big embrace that fit everyone & everything” (Zak's mum)
4/. #BREAKING: The verdict in the trial in against those accused of killing LGBT-rights activist, Zak Kostopoulos, in 2018 has just been handed down

The 2 shopkeepers found guilty

The 6 police officersfound not guilty

@AmnestyGreece statement to follow shortly #ZakKostopoulos
5/. “It beggars belief that despite footage showing police using unnecessary force to arrest Zak while he lay dying on the ground, no officer has yet to be held to account. This is yet another example in Greece where victims are left without justice” amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

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More from @StefSimanowitz

May 3
1/. Two hundred years ago, a slab of Purbeck stone was set deep into a hillside on Hampstead Heath

Called the Stone of Free Speech, it’s a place where people would come to hear ‘Radicals’ like Hunt, Cobbett, Cartwright & Burdett give speeches about the struggle for basic rights
2/. The word radical is often associated with extremism but it derives from the Latin “radix” meaning root

To effect real change, it’s essential to go to the root of a problem

So people would gather here to talk about suffrage, ending child labour & extreme inequality & slavery
3/. In 1816 - amid growing fear among the ruling class - a riot at Spa Fields where people had gathered to hear Henry Hunt talk about electoral reform, gave a pretext for the passing of the “Gagging Acts” suppressing reformist activities & making gatherings of 50+ people illegal.
Read 4 tweets
Apr 22
1/. #THREAD (read until the end)

As people around the world mark #EarthDay a QUESTION...

Would you buy grapes that were individually wrapped in plastic?
#ClimateAction #ClimateEmergency #plasticpollution #ClimateJustice #EarthDay2022 #ClimateActionNow
2/. “Every single grape wrapped in plastic! What the actual *#@*!”

You’d probably be outraged like my friend Diane was! #FridaysForFuture #ClimateAction #ClimateEmergency #plasticfree #EarthDay #EarthDay2022
#ClimateMarch #ClimateJustice
3/. CONFESSION

The individually wrapped grapes iaren’t real

The plastic wrapped passion fruit are

Britain is the world’s 2nd biggest producer of plastic per person

Plastic waste kills millions of birds, sea mammals & fish each year
(Clip @GreenpeaceUK)
Read 4 tweets
Apr 18
The PM breaking #COVID19 lockdown rules then lying about it is serious

But there are MUCH bigger scandals than #Partygate (many of which I broke)

5/3/20 - #TakeItOnTheChin #HerdImmunityScandal

3/2/20 #GreenwichSpeech👇

15/5/20 #CarehomeScandal

👉the #DataGrab / #PalantirPlan
For me, my investigation began by chance on 8/3/20 when I stumbled on @BorisJohnson’s interview with @Schofe & @hollywills where he said “one theory is we could #TakeItOnTheChin

I clipped it & it went viral

Ironically, this was also the same day as first Briton died of #COVID
As #COVID19 hit, every epidemiologist/virologist made clear #HerdImmunity without a vaccine was an “outcome” not a “strategy”

Every behaviourist made clear “behavioural fatigue” was unscientific

Every expert knew about asymptomatic spread in Feb 2020

Then the penny dropped
Read 7 tweets
Apr 7
Good morning!

Next month is #WPFD22

If you’re at #IJF22, please add your voice to @amnesty’s #WPFD call to #FreeJulianAssange

I’ll be filming vox pops in Perugia

Whistleblowers, publishers & journalists are vital in holding govts to account. #Assange
“Perugia is great. The #IJF22 is great but let’s not forget about Julian Assange”

Today at the @journalismfest, we’d like to ask you a simple yes/no question

“Do you think that the US government’s indictment poses a grave threat to press freedom?” WPFD22
Here at the @journalismfest in Perugia, we are giving each journalist an Easter egg & asking them if they think that the US government’s attempt to “eggs-tradite” #JulianAssange poses a grave threat to press freedom

Do far the answer has been a unanimous “yes”!
#IJF22 #Assange
Read 7 tweets
Apr 3
#Hungary’s Orban - with his anti-Western, ultra-conservative, anti-LGBTQ worldview - made no secret of his closeness to Putin

Indeed, Russia is one of his role models

But following the #Ukraine️ invasion, will this be his undoing in today’s elections?
cnn.com/2022/04/02/eur…
“We don't want #Hungary to be a diverse country. We want to be how we were 1,100 years ago”

#Orban said this in 2019, harking back with nostalgia to that golden era...known as the Dark Ages!

Like other populists, stoking culture war has been a key tactic
In 2017, Bannon invited Farage to help to create a global network of ‘populist nationalists’

He mentions Modi, Orban, Sisi, & Duterte but Trump, Bolsanaro, & @BorisJohnson were no doubt in his mind

Could an #Orban defeat mark the start of the fight back?
Read 6 tweets
Apr 2
1/. Tomorrow, voters in #Hungary will go to the polls

#Orban, who installed what he calls “illiberal democracy” is running for his fifth term

He controls public television

His allies dominate private media

Voters are inundated with pro-Orban coverage
google.co.uk/amp/s/www.nyti…
2/. Ahead of the European elections, virtually all Hungary's newspapers ran the same front page Orban interview

Research found that 77% of political & public affairs media is financed by sources decided by ruling Fidesz party

These tactics are part of the authoritarian playbook Image
3/. Fascism experts like @TimothyDSnyder, believe politicians around the world are reviving century-old fascist tactics

They use populist rhetoric to stir-up divisions & harness the power of tech, big data & social media to win power & reshape narratives.
Read 8 tweets

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