Sam Gregory – Sheffield journo

"There is no neutral path anymore": How can scientists take action and tell stories to avert climate collapse? An afternoon at the University of Sheffield’s Sustainability Symposium saw discussion on the roles of art and activism in furthering serious action on climate breakdown.

Democratising data, renegade economists and visual activism: @nowthenmag.bsky.social on an afternoon at the @granthamcsf.bsky.social Sustainability Symposium 👇

nowthenmagazine.com/articles/the...

"There is no neutral path anymore": How can scientists take action and tell stories to avert climate collapse? An afternoon at the University of Sheffield’s Sustainability Symposium saw discussion on the roles of art and activism in furthering serious action on climate breakdown.

"I've increasingly embraced an identity as both a scientist and an activist"

At the @granthamcsf.bsky.social's Sustainability Summit, scholars and scientists explored what roles art and activism have to play in furthering serious action on climate breakdown 🪧

@sheffielduni.bsky.social

One of Sheffield's best-loved venues has had its future secured, as part of plans to create a "National Trust for music" The Music Venue Trust are looking to raise £1.5 million from fans to acquire the freehold on grassroots culture spaces in Leeds, Newcastle and South Yorkshire.

The future of one of Sheffield’s most celebrated arts venues looks set to be secure for the long-term with the announcement that its city centre site will be acquired by @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social for the benefit of the city.

✍️ @sammgreg.bsky.social

#GutLevel #MusicVenues #Dance #Clubbing

Really looking forward to hosting the discussion part of this – it's gonna be great! 👇

@plutopress.bsky.social

Case against ‘Drax 15’ dramatically thrown out of court, as activists against the UK’s biggest polluter walk free Climate campaigners are asking serious questions about why the police prioritised the crackdown over last year’s far-right riots.

The case against the #Drax 15 has been thrown out of court, with the judge citing a lack of evidence.

Activists with Reclaim The Power want to know why the police spent millions on the botched operation, instead of focusing on the far-right riots taking place at the time.

✍️ @sammgreg.bsky.social

Anti-apartheid activists disrupt Sheffield energy summit over ties with weapons manufacturers The University of Sheffield invited Rolls-Royce and Boeing to a flagship meeting, despite both companies’ links with the genocide in Gaza.

"We will continue our disruptions until institutions like the AMRC stop hosting these genocidal companies"

Anti-apartheid activists have picketed an energy summit hosted by @sheffielduni.bsky.social involving companies that sell weapons to Israel's fugitive regime.

@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

Make them take some responsibility and put solar panels on Park Hill first!

Us in Sheffield here at @nowthenmag.bsky.social!

Enjoyed chatting to @theipaper.com about Oliver Coppard's risky and irresponsible decision to gamble public money reopening a failed airport during a climate emergency (£) 🛬

inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Not in our name: Sheffield councillors vote to support city becoming "anti-apartheid zone", and call for tougher action on Israel's genocide The motion, supported by the city’s three major parties, calls on the Labour government to end military sales to the apartheid state.

#Sheffield councillors have backed a strongly-worded motion condemning the actions of apartheid Israel.

It's believed to be the most critical motion any #Labour group has yet passed regarding the government’s response to the ongoing genocide.

@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

Where should systems change organisations keep their money? At Opus, we’re in the process of moving our savings to a more ethical platform with better interest returns. Team member Sam Gregory spoke to colleague Bashkim Muca about the thinking behind the switc...

At Opus, we’re in the process of moving our company savings to a more ethical platform with better interest rates.

@sammgreg.bsky.social spoke to colleague Bashkim Muca about the thinking behind the switch, and what learning we hope to offer to other organisations devoted to systems change ⬇️

Wow! So Oliver Coppard was not up to speed with the climate emergency and the disastrous contribution that passenger airflight makes to it Bit worrying...

Oliver Coppard admits flights won’t take off from Doncaster Sheffield Airport until 2028, as future of climate-heating project teeters on brink The South Yorkshire Mayor told business leaders in Doncaster that the economic benefits were “lower than we initially understood”.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has said Doncaster Sheffield Airport is now unlikely to reopen to passengers before 2028.

He also said the economic benefits of spending £100m of public money on the carbon-intensive project would be “lower than we initially understood”

@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

"...that's on the BBC"

Off the Shelf - Off the Shelf Festival of Words returns to Sheffield in 2025 with Lucy Worsley and Lemn Sissay The 34th edition of the book-based event series also features Alison Steadman, Simon Armitage and Sheffield’s own Graham Fellows among more than 60 events.

"This year’s programme is a true reflection of our city – diverse, vibrant and welcoming to all"

We're super excited about the lineup for this year's @otsfestival.bsky.social, led by Lemn Sissay, @lucyworsley.bsky.social and @kenanmalik.bsky.social, plus loads more 📚

@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

Thanks for sending this Alex, and I glad you liked the piece. I've had a read of the paper and it's super interesting. Will definitely bear in my mind if/when I do a follow-up 😊

Absolutely shameful. What happened yesterday is on them. It's particularly unforgivable when you remember many of their brave colleagues including @labourlewis.bsky.social voted against proscription

Worth noting that every Sheffield MP, including Olivia Blake and @louisehaighmp.bsky.social, voted in favour of this disgraceful piece of legislation.

They knew the premise of the bill wasn't true but they voted for it anyway.

"Say you support Palestine Action these days and you'll be arrested and thrown in jail"

The only possible explanation is that they simply aren't familiar with what he's done? (or they're also sex offenders and sympathise with him...)

Who are these 5%...

Looks a beaut 😍

👆 drug reform and harm reduction in Sheffield @transformdrugs.bsky.social @sheffieldtransformed.org @angelaargenzio.bsky.social @sheffgreenparty.bsky.social @anyoneschild.bsky.social @davetebbet.bsky.social @releasedrugs.bsky.social @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social @alexidimond.bsky.social

Drug death epidemic: Is it time to bring legal consumption rooms to Sheffield? A pioneering new project in Glasgow aims to cut the number of overdose deaths by providing a safe environment for injecting powerful opioids. Could this model work in South Yorkshire?

With the advent of powerful new synthetic opioids, health workers fear we could be about to see an explosion in the rate of drug deaths in #Sheffield.

Could 'The Thistle', a pioneering project in Glasgow that allows drug users to inject on-site, be part of the solution?

@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

a close up of a woman 's face with a disney logo on the bottom Alt: a close up of a woman 's face with a disney logo on the bottom

"The focus remains on support, not punishment"

Perry?

ain Edwards is a comedian who makes deadpan Instagram videos satirising the new Manchester, “a nightmare of overpriced novelty cocktails, retro fonts and burgers named after serial killers”. Edwards moved to Manchester from Rhyl in north Wales to go to university in 2010 and sees herself as part of the creative working class. “It’s actually surreal how fast it has changed. I think it just feels like the main reason for moving here isn’t due to a love of Manchester, it is due to it being (a bit) cheaper than London. There’s a feeling that newbies don’t want Manchester, they want London, so that naturally affects how they interact with the place. And because money talks, the city will always adapt to this fast cash above all else.”

This quote in Helen Pidd's piece articulates something I've always picked up on in Manchester but never quite been able to put my finger on.

Orgreave inquiry into alleged corruption by South Yorkshire Police to finally start in the autumn, says Home Office Chaired by the Bishop of Sheffield, the inquiry will look into claims that the violent policing operation at the height of the miners’ strike was orchestrated from Downing Street.

An inquiry into events surrounding the Battle of Orgreave will open this autumn, with campaigners hoping it will investigate alleged links between the Thatcher government and South Yorkshire Police.

@sammgreg.bsky.social ✍️

#OrgreaveInquiry #Orgreave

A screenshot of a BBC News headline: "Pensioners in 2050 to be worse off than those retiring today, government warns"

Fascinating strategy by this government to win a landslide and then tell us that our lives are going to get worse in every conceivable way.

You'd have thought they'd have learnt their lesson about selecting such poor-quality candidates!