Anna Castleton Simmons

The RSF’s capture of Darfur is a tragedy unfolding in silence.

Thousands have been killed, millions displaced, a man-made famine, driven by foreign interference — and the world looks away.

We must demand accountability, humanitarian aid, and an end to the violence in Sudan.

Do you know the ✨extraordinary story✨of visionary Newham artist Madge Gill?…

Hugest congrats! 🙌🎊🏆

👋 Welcome to Bluesky, amazing @artrefuge.bsky.social! 🦋

🧡 Art Refuge is a really phenomenal charity that uses art and art therapy to support thousands of people every year, who have been displaced due to conflict, persecution, poverty & the climate emergency

#RefugeesWelcome #TogetherWithRefugees

Yesterday we joined over 200 organisations to stand in solidarity with those affected by the recent anti-refugee protests across the UK, many of whom have already fled unimaginable horrors to try to find safety.

This must be a turning point.

#togetherwithrefugees🧡
@refugeestogether.bsky.social

200 charities tell leaders to take 'strong stand' against anti-refugee protests Demonstrations have been held outside hotels housing asylum seekers including the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, and in London and Newcastle. They have been met with counter-protests by anti-racism camp...

"It is time for you, our leaders, to take a strong and united stand." Thanks to the 200+ orgs that joined our call for communities & the country to be brought together for a different way forward – one that's compassionate & united 🧡 www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Happy happy birthday! Wishing you a joyful day! 🎊🎂 Hugest thanks for another wonderful year of phenomenal posts 🙏✨💐

A butterfly with wings in shades of brown is on a purple flower in a garden

The Big Butterfly Count is on!

By taking part in a UK wide survey, you can help assess the health of our environment simply by counting butterflies - and there's a handy app (and ID sheet) to help: buff.ly/Juy2MCp

Photo: Paul Harris

29 human rights wins to be proud of January Afghanistan In 2023, Amnesty International released a report on the Taliban’s war on women. Following its findings, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor filed a request for arrest warrants against the Taliban’s Supreme Leader and their Chief Justice, citing crimes against humanity. The request charged the Taliban’s Supreme Leader and their Chief Justice for gender persecution […]

Over the past six months, the headlines have been dominated by stories of fear, division and hatred. However, activists around the world are working away to ensure hope prevails.

Here are 29 human rights wins we can be proud of 👇

"Train is the new private jet." Dua Lipa continues to promote taking the train over flying, boarding a Eurostar to London at Gare du Nord. This is climate-conscious messaging done right. Posted by lejeuneengage on IG.

We have re-introduced #EllasLaw to Parliament.

This Bill is about the right to breathe clean air, and the right to grow up and grow old without potentially lethal harm being done to our lungs, hearts and brains by preventable air pollution.

It is also about a little girl. This is Ella's story 👇

Organisations Supporting Asylum Seekers in France and the UK Dua’s Monthly Read for July is Small Boat, a powerful novel that fictionalises events around the real-life drown

🧡 Huge thanks to Dua Lipa’s Service95 for including @artrefuge.bsky.social in their roundup of amazing organisations supporting refugees on both sides of the Channel.

www.service95.com/organisation...

📣 Today, on World Environment Day, we want to celebrate some good news for people and the planet! 🌎 👏

Watch and share to help support local communities who are fighting to save their homes and our planet ⤵️

🚨The gov has just released their white paper on immigration.

But their plan won’t fix our broken asylum system. Instead, we need a fair new plan for refugees.

This👇is how it can be done.

It’s going to take all of us to make them listen. Get involved now
togetherwithrefugees.org.uk/fair-begins-...

A Brave and Startling Truth: Maya Angelou’s Stunning Humanist Poem That Flew to Space, Inspired by Carl Sagan “Out of such chaos, of such contradiction / We learn that we are neither devils nor divines…”

Maya Angelou would have been 97 today. Nothing has given me more consolation in these unworlding times than her poem "A Brave and Startling Truth," which flew to space to hold up cosmic mirror to the best in us and the worst in us and the possible in us

Our top moments from the 2025 Oscars 💛

End the legal loophole for physically punishing children The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is a vital piece of legislation that will help ensure all children get the best start in life, driving th...

“Our amendment is simple: children should have the same legal protections from assault as adults.”

Proud to work with Jess Asato MP on a joint op-ed advocating for the abolition of the 'reasonable punishment' defence.

Read our full piece here: www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...

Historic Women Artists | 2025 Museum Exhibitions This post lists current and upcoming museum shows that focus on women artists of past centuries, which will be on view during 2025

Museum Exhibitions about Historic Women Artists: 2025 artherstory.net/museum-exhib...

AI as Double Speak for Austerity | TechPolicy.Press Amnesty Tech's Likhita Banerji and Damini Satija say the Summit should prioritize people and communities over the whims of corporations.

🚨As leaders gather for the Paris #AIActionSummit, they must confront a stark reality: rapid deployment of AI in the public sector is deepening inequality, expanding mass surveillance, & violating human rights.

Our analysis in @techpolicypress.bsky.social 👇

IT IS A COUP This is what should be on every front page in 150 point banner headlines. All I have is this Substack but I lay it beneath your feet and pray to a higher power that I'm wrong.

This is what should be on every front page right now. What's happening in the US right now is an illegal power grab by a private citizen. IT'S A COUP.

It's a digital coup. It's Musk who's leading it. The consequences are terrifying. And it's coming for us next.
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open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

REAL HOPE. REAL CHANGE. STOP THE PERFORMATIVE CRUELTY. Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

"This Labour government are plumbing new depths by broadcasting footage of people being detained and deported. Those involved should be searching their consciences to ask if such breath-taking cruelty is really worth it all for the sake of aping the rhetoric of Reform." Carla Denyer MP, Green Party Co-leader I MP Bristol Central

"It’s time this government showed a bit of backbone and told the truth – that migration is good for this country."

@carladenyer.bsky.social responds to Labour's shocking decision to broadcast footage of people being detained and deported.

Imagine thinking you could stop us. We don't need permission to celebrate ourselves. Black history is not a curriculum to be revised, a government celebration to be canceled or textbook to be taken off a shelf. It’s a legacy that can not be erased. Visit array101.org for our free learning guides.

Hugest love and admiration from London! 💕✨

Growing Through Grief: Derek Jarman on Gardening as Creative Redemption, Consecration of Time, and Training Ground for Presence “The gardener digs in another time, without past or future, beginning or end… Here is the Amen beyond the prayer.”

“The gardener digs in another time, without past or future, beginning or end… Here is the Amen beyond the prayer.”

On Derek Jarman's birthday, his timeless meditation on gardening

Large canvas of aerial view of the sky from above the cloud level. To the point of the horizon at 2/3 of the canvas the sky is vibrant blue dotted with islands of white clouds like icebergs in the sea. The top 1/3 is the pale horizon fading from salmon peach to grey-blue to the edge of the canvas.

A blue sky for Bluesky! ☁️