Martin Empson

But on the other side, it says nothing at all.

If you were rich in 17th century Lutjenburg, a town in northern Germany, you didn't have to mix with the peasants and workers at prayer. You had your own box, with a separate entrance.

Agriculture then and now. Farming in northern Germany.

Not sure I can see Starmer lasting much beyond the end of this year at this rate!

Kai Bird & Martin J Sherwin - American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer Like many others I bought American Prometheus after watching the 2023 film Oppenheimer . By any judgement, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the subje...

My holiday reading has included "American Prometheus", the fascinating biography of Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird & Martin J Sherwin. Here's my review #books #reviews resolutereader.blogspot.com/2025/08/kai-...

Map of Europe, but with borders as straightlines.

Europe, if Europe was colonised by Europe.

Two wildfires in US west spur ‘fire clouds’ with erratic weather systems Two wildfires in US west spur ‘fire clouds’ with erratic weather systems: Containment slips for megafire in Grand Canyon and large blaze in Utah as hot and dry weather fans flames Two wildfires burning in the western United States – including one that has become a “megafire” on the North ...

Two wildfires in US west spur ‘fire clouds’ with erratic weather systems: Containment slips for megafire in Grand Canyon and large blaze in Utah as hot and dry weather fans flames Two wildfires burning in the western United States – including one that has become a “megafire” on the North ...

Physicists disagree wildly on what quantum mechanics says about reality, Nature survey shows First major attempt to chart researchers’ views finds interpretations in conflict.

A fascinating study of the uncertainty (ha ha) at the heart of physicists' understanding of Quantum Mechanics. Interesting there is still such disagreement. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Scientists mourn Tom Lehrer — nerdiest of singer-songwriters The mathematician’s memorable satires are beloved by generations of researchers.

Nature obituary of Tom Lehrer focusing on his scientific songs, including the great one about the elements in the periodic table. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Unfortunately I am not in Manchester this weekend. But I urge anyone who is to join the Manchester Stand Up to Racism Unity protest on Saturday 2 Aug against far-right Britain First who are trying to march in our city. Supported by my union Manchester Unison. Stop Racism. Stop Bigotry. Stop Fascism.

Karin Wieland - Dietrich & Riefenstahl: Hollywood, Berlin & a century in two lives Marlene Dietrich was one of the great artists, actors and performers of the early twentieth century. Her life was shaped by the twists and t...

My latest book review is of Karin Wieland's Dietrich & Riefenstahl, a joint biography that fails to really get to grips with the two individuals, or the context for their lives. resolutereader.blogspot.com/2025/07/kari...

Last week I had a letter in @theguardian.com supporting the Resident Doctors and saying I would join their pickets to support them. This morning I did. Solidarity to the BMA and all those workers in the NHS deserve decent pay.

The enthusiasm for the new party that's been launched by Corbyn & Sultana demonstrates a real desire for radical politics that reverse decades of neoliberalism. If this can be linked to an increase in struggle, not just the ballot box, then we could be looking at profound change.

Wes Streeting, and this entire Labour government, really are pieces of work. You know what's undermining the union movement Wes? Your government's austerity, assaults on workers' rights and stiring up racism.

The Telegraph’s and Farage’s ‘big lie’ boosts fascist thugs in Epping The Telegraph newspaper and Farage are peddling claims about the far right protests in Epping that were first spread by fascists

No. The police did not facilitate the antiracists in Epping. I wonder why the Telegraph is regurgitating Farage's lies? That's a rhetorical question btw. socialistworker.co.uk/anti-racism/...

Manchester’s Royal Exchange rooted in slavery and colonialism, research reveals Links to enslavement, exploitation and opium make it ‘one of most important locations in history of global capitalism’

Slavery, colonialism and Manchester's Royal Exchange www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...

Time change.
#LondonCalling all to Epping at 2.00pm Sunday, 27 July 2025.
No pasaran.

On the 22 July 2011 the Nazi terrorist #Breivik murdered
77 innocent people because they were anti-racist.
He shared "Tommy Robinson's" politics.
This is where race hate leads.
This is what fascism is.
Never forget.
#NeverAgain.
All out against the racist 2.00pm, Sunday 27 July, Epping.

»Realisten« vs. »Utopisten« – Lyndal Ropers Blick auf den Bauernkrieg - Sozialismus von unten Die Historikerin Lyndal Roper hat ein Buch zum 500. Jahrestag des Bauernkriegs geschrieben. Rosemarie Nünning findet darin Lesenswertes, aber auch Fragwürdiges.

Rosemarie translated my book on the Peasants' War into German. This is her critical review of the other book that came out in English this year on 1525, by Lyndal Roper. www.sozialismus-von-unten.org/realisten-vs...

Protest leaflet. Slogans say: "Defend Refugees. Stop the Far Right in Epping. No to Fascist Tommy Robinson". Date Sunday 27 July, 4pm, Epping.

This Sunday, far-right activist Tommy Robinson has called a demonstration outside a refugee hostel in Epping. This hostel has already been the site of racist protests and attacks on anti-racists campaigners. As they said in Spain during the revolution: "No pasarán".

Solidaritet med Imam Ali Moskéen | Internationale Socialister

Fascists attack a mosque in Denmark. socialister.dk/solidaritet-...

Pope condemns Gaza war’s ‘barbarity’ as 73 reported killed while waiting for food Pontiff also speaks of anguish over Israeli strike on territory’s only Catholic church, which killed three people

Hey Keir Starmer. Watch out for this extremist over there, protesting the killing of Palestinians. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Eamon Duffy - A People's Tragedy: Studies in Reformation As one of the preeminent scholars of the English Reformation I have always found Eamon Duffy's work to be insightful and interesting. Despit...

My latest book review looks at a collection of essays by the esteemed historian Eamon Duffy on the Reformation and its legacy. I enjoyed "A People's Tragedy" but its flaws lie in the separation of religion from politics and economics.
resolutereader.blogspot.com/2025/07/eamo...

Corrected error in long-lost medieval saga suggests that its hero fought wolves, not elves | CNN Two researchers are proposing a new reading of the Song of Wade, a once widely known epic from the 12th century, thanks to a scribe’s error they unearthed.

Nice write-up of The Song of Wade in @cnn.com

Highlight has to be my co-author deploying the classic teacher response to a wacky student suggestion when asked if he might be related to a fictional character 😁

edition.cnn.com/2025/07/18/s...

I see that Keir Starmer has sacked a Black woman MP for trying to discuss racism on the very day that a far-right riot against asylum seekers takes place.

John Rose - Revolutions Thwarted: Poland, South Africa, Iran, Brazil and the legacies of Communism John Rose, who died recently, was a veteran socialist of the 1968 generation. I reviewed his excellent book The Myths of Zionism many years...

My latest book review looks at John Rose's book "Revolutions Thwarted" on the legacies of Communism and its impact on workers' struggle in Poland, South Africa, Iran and Brazil. Its a really brilliant book. resolutereader.blogspot.com/2025/07/john...

Er der nogen gode røde venner fra Danmark herinde? :)

Yesterday morning I had an unexpected visit to a local NHS hospital. As I get older, I spend an increasing amount of time at clinics, hospitals and my GP’s surgery. As always, I was struck by the kindness, patience and professionalism of every member of staff. While clearly dealing with shortages of beds, resources and staff, they always remain robust and cheerful. All NHS staff are working harder for less money in real terms. Wes Streeting’s attacks on resident doctors for “unreasonable” demands is a classic divide-and-rule tactic. He would rather NHS staff, whether they are cleaners, admin workers or nurses, blame resident doctors for their low pay rather than a succession of governments that have turned their backs on health workers’ justified pay claims. Instead of being their enemy, other NHS workers should see the strike as an inspiration and give it their full support. That’s why I will be visiting the doctors’ picket line next week to show my solidarity. Martin Empson Manchester

The Guardian has run my letter supporting the Resident Doctors' strike www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

"And yet it moves"

Photo of a picket line by British Medical Association "resident doctors" in 2024, showing five pickets wearing orange hats and carrying placards saying "£15/hours is not a fair wage for a junior doctor".

An unexpected trip to hospital this morning reminded me how kind, supportive & professional all our NHS staff are. It's I'm supporting the Resident Doctors strike next week. I'll be visiting their picket lines on the way to work & dropping off some (unhealthy) snacks for strikers.