Dr Gary Willis

Inside Mexico’s Anti-Avocado Militias - Regeneration International The spread of the avocado is a story of greed, ambition, corruption, water shortages, cartel battles and, in a number of towns and villages, a fierce fightback

My weekend brunch will never be the same again: regenerationinternational.org/2024/06/09/i...

Secret Maps | British Library Step into the shadows at Secret Maps, a major new exhibition revealing the stories hidden in some of history’s most mysterious maps.

Must go to see the British Library's 'Secret Maps' exhibition before it closes in mid-January @britishlibrary.bsky.social events.bl.uk/exhibitions/...

Zaytoun - Ethically Sourced Fine Foods from Palestine Ethically sourced olive oil and fine foods from Palestine. Medjoul dates, za'atar & other award winning products from Palestinian producers.

Fight back against illegal Israeli colonizers of Palestine's West Bank, who are trying to destroy the Palestinian olive harvest. Buy Palestinian olive oil from Zaytoun: zaytoun.uk

The conference on 7 November is now available to go to online via Microsoft Teams; email Lars Cook (below) or it might be available if you register for the 'Bannocks & Bombs' event on Eventbrite.

Have just been round it- fantastic as always. Still another hour of it if you're anywhere near Senate House, Bloomsbury and want to drop in

It's also on Eventbrite. Search for 'Bannocks & Bombs! Scotland & World War Two

This coming Friday 7th November; am presenting my paper (below) at UHI Perth's 'Bannocks and Bombs' conference. Free and in-person @uhiperth.bsky.social

The Smog of War: The Battle for Britain’s Clean Air

During the #SecondWorldWar the government’s efforts to obscure Britain’s skies put it at odds with the National Smoke Abatement Society.

🔒 Gary Willis’ article from the November issue is now in the archive

www.historytoday.com/archive/feat...

An excellent event for finding out about various archives

Talking Records: Pollution in the Archive (in person) Explore histories of pollution, contamination, and environmental damage in the archive at this one-day symposium at The National Archives.

Talking Records: Pollution in the Archive is now open for registration! 🏭🌊

In person symposium at The National Archives on 4th December: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-re...

Afternoon of online talks on 5th December: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-re...

#envhum #envhist

My article in History Today is now out, about the Government's programme of deliberate smoke production during the Second World War to try to obscure industrial targets from the Luftwaffe. @pastpreservers.bsky.social

Government loses bid to block appeal against Palestine Action ban Palestine Action's co-founder said the government's attempt to avoid judicial scrutiny had 'backfired spectacularly'.

HA....HA.........HA: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

From Bones to Books to Blitz Scrap Learn about the history of wartime recycling (then called ‘salvage’) in this illustrated talk by Dr Henry Irving at The London Archives.

Book your ticket now for Dr Henry Irving's late afternoon talk on 10 December at The London Archives @thelondonarchives.bsky.social on recycling in London during the Second World World www.thelondonarchives.org/whats-on/fro...

Looking forward to presenting my paper: 'High, Open, Bleak and Boggy: How Scotland's Environment Shaped Its Involvement In The Second World War' at the 'Scotland and World War Two' conference at Perth UHI on Friday 7 November, 9am to 3pm. Contact Lars Cook at Lars.Cook.Perth@uni.ac.uk for more info.

Thirst: In Search of Freshwater Our new exhibition explores humanity’s vital connection with freshwater – an essential source of life and pillar of good health for people and planet.

Interesting looking exhibition on at The Wellcome Collection in London at the moment: wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/...

Clear Air Act 1956; the defining of "the environment" by name as an issue and related to that the rise of environmental organisations; the creation of The Ecology>>Green Party; the eventual rise of alternative renewable sources of energy: on + offshore wind and solar - but not nuclear; recycling...

Just had a city break in Stockholm. Amazing visit to the VasaMuseet. A must for every historian, whatever their specialist period/issue.

Am rather worried that if I dream of holding up a Support Palestine Action piece of card that Yvette (Labour Friend of Israel) Cooper's thought police will come knocking on my door.

New Perspectives in Military Aviation – RAFM Conference 2025 Join the RAF Museum London for a 2-day hybrid conference exploring fresh perspectives on military aviation history, strategy and legacies.

Looking forward to presenting my paper on The Dambusters' Raid as an act of environmental warfare, at the RAF Museum's conference on 4th and 5th September @pastpreservers.bsky.social www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats...

Interesting article I'm currently reading: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

My latest blog is up, about the Council for the Preservation of Rural England's activities during the Second World War; based on a paper I gave at the Institute of Historical Research in February; @katrinanavickas.bsky.social @dudleymarianna.bsky.social blogs.kent.ac.uk/munitions-of...

Carbon footprint of Israel’s war on Gaza exceeds that of many entire countries Exclusive: The climate cost is more than than the combined 2023 emissions of Costa Rica and Estonia, study finds

The carbon footprint of the Israeli State and Israeli "Defence" Force's war on Gaza: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

4 years 3 months sentence for destroying a national landmark? A laughable punishment, and they'll be out in two years on parole to add insult to injury. Should have been twice as long a sentence, at least. media.zenfs.com/en/the_indep...

Fears that UK military bases may be leaking toxic ‘forever chemicals’ into drinking water Bases in Norfolk, Devon and Hampshire face MoD investigation over possible leaching of dangerous PFAS into environment

Investigation into environmental pollution by British military bases: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

UK Government Web Archive We capture, preserve, and make accessible UK central government information published on the web from 1996 to present.

With my National Archives User Advisory Group Academic & Environmental Representative hat on, here's a plug for TNA's Government Web Archive: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/webarchive/

Delighted to have been accepted on to the National Archives' Independent Researcher list, covering C20th UK History, general research, British Army and the RAF @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy; www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/irlist/defau...

Have you tried Vit B2? I take 400 mgs a day.

Van Gogh and the End of Nature a book by Michael Lobel. A groundbreaking reassessment that foregrounds Van Gogh’s profound engagement with the industrial age while making his work newly relevant for our world today  “Van Gogh has never seemed more relevant...

Really enjoying Michael Lobel's 'envhist book' on Van Gogh's engagement through his art with industrialisation: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/van-...

RAF Museum Conference 2025 - RAF Museum A two day conference that discusses new perspectives in military aviation research, running from 3 - 4 September 2025. Discounted tickets available.

Will be speaking about the Dambusters' Raid as an act of environmental warfare on the second day of the RAF Museum's annual conference in September; @rafmuseum.bsky.social www.rafmuseum.org.uk/midlands/wha...