MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in step forward for reproductive rights Amendment to crime and policing bill will change law to end prosecution of women who terminate pregnancies * UK politics live – latest updates British MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion, marking the biggest step forward in reproductive rights in almost 60 years. In an amendment to the government’s crime and policing bill, parliament voted to change the criminal laws that govern abortion in England and Wales so that women procuring their own termination outside the legal framework cannot be prosecuted. Continue reading...

MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in step forward for reproductive rights

Keen to find out which of these inspired and inspiring writers is going to win! @womensprize.bsky.social #books

#writeCBC Good omen: he has red hair like my first crush. Bad? He's in short sleeves and the rain's made an angel tattoo on one smooth bicep weep. As he hands me the bag, he smiles. Decision made. I slip my stolen scrap into his fingers. Soft, warm, human. His eyes widen as he reads my note: Help.

cardboard box labeled "poetry a-f"

How poetry is it?

Met raids Quaker meeting house and arrests six women at Youth Demand talk At least 20 officers forced their way into property and police said some present were planning direct action in London Police have raided a Quaker meeting house and arrested six women attending a gathering of the protest group Youth Demand. More than 20 uniformed police, some equipped with Tasers, forced their way into the Westminster meeting house at 7.15pm, according to a statement by the Quakers. Continue reading...

Met raids Quaker meeting house and arrests six women at Youth Demand talk

Conservative party to ditch commitment to net zero in UK by 2050 Break in cross-party consensus on issue to be announced on Tuesday

We don't want to be moving backwards. ❌

Right now, the UK is a world leader in rolling out renewable energy. Decarbonising our economy is the biggest business opportunity of the century. 🌍

Stepping back from climate action would be an out of touch move.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The 10 largest contributors to historical CO2 emissions*

*fossil emissions only, not including land use.

From one of our data insights this week: ourworldindata.org/data-insight...

Sea life along Norfolk coast under new threat from toxic plastic The recent North Sea cargo collision has unleashed a devastating plastic spill, threatening Norfolk’s fragile wildlife and coastline

😢 Sea life along Norfolk coast under new threat from toxic plastic.

A recent North Sea cargo collision released a devastating plastic spill.

The RSPB reports it is threatening Norfolk’s fragile coastline wildlife at the start of nesting season. 🪺

18 maps showing decadal average temperature changes since 1850 to present, getting redder in recent decades

Mapping changes in temperature: every decade from the 1850s to 2020s

America’s clean air rules boost health and the economy − here’s what EPA’s new deregulation plans ignore Clean air has become one of America’s best investments, returning $10 for every $1 spent on regulations, by one estimate.

A professor of environmental sciences gives a quick punchy take on the "eye-popping" numbers re. how clean air promotes economic growth.

An EPA analysis of 20 years of the Clean Air Act (1970-90) found the economic benefits of the regulations were about 42X greater than the costs.

No pay wall.

‘The sewage scandal ends now’: UK water company fines to be used to clean up rivers After fears £11m would be diverted to Treasury, money will be spent on restoring polluted areas where penalties issued Millions of pounds of fines imposed on water firms will fund environmental schemes to protect the country’s waterways after fears the…

‘The sewage scandal ends now’: UK water company fines to be used to clean up rivers

🚨 BREAKING: The government has just committed to NOT issuing new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea.

This is a HUGE WIN for the climate 💚

The house conspired with my Aunt to put visitors in their place. I had to bow my head to enter but the walls inside were impossibly tall. Salt greased the windows; the glass tasted of tears. Where the view drowned me, the stubborn house held its face to the spray, kept its watch on the sea #writeCBC

50% GDP Collapse Ahead? Actuaries Sound The Alarm—Who’s Listening? A 50% GDP collapse? Actuaries warn of economic devastation if we fail to act on climate risk. Entire industries could crumble—Why are we ignoring the warning?

For years, climate scientists have warned us. Now, the very people who calculate financial risk—actuaries—are sounding the alarm. Their latest report projects a 50% collapse in global GDP within decades...

@forbes www.forbes.com/sites/we-don...

Scientists Discover Low-Cost Way to Trap Carbon Using Common Rocks – And it Could Help Farmers Too Stanford chemists find a practical, low-cost way to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the air—the main driver of climate change.

Scientists Discover Low-Cost Way to Trap Carbon Using Common Rocks – And it Could Help Farmers Too www.goodnewsnetwork.org/scientists-d...

Save The Prince Charles Cinema The future of the iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords, Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

BREAKING: We’ve WON a historic case against the Rosebank & Jackdaw oil & gas fields. 🎉

👏 NO NEW OIL AND GAS! 📣

This is GAME-CHANGING.

And it’s ONLY been possible thanks to YEARS of fighting by THOUSANDS of climate campaigners! Power to the people. ✊

Photo of the Year Compass booklet for 2024/25 printed out, next to a pink flowering orchid and some fairy lights on a window sill

Just finished this year's #yearcompass It's a great rainy day activity, reviewing last year and planning ahead. I'm hoping to write more in 2025. Wishing everyone luck for the new year!

‘It absolutely took off’: five UK biodiversity success stories From new butterfly habitats in the Cotswolds to arctic willow planting in the Scottish Highlands, there are increasing numbers of places where humans are giving nature a helping hand to re-establish itself It is easy to get mired in a sense of…

‘It absolutely took off’: five UK biodiversity success stories

Ella looked up. Snow and memories twisted in her brother's eyes. 'You need to go home' she said. 'I remember. You broke your deal with Dad: six months hot, six cold. It's been too warm.' She turned, blasted her Mum back to the Arctic. She hoped there was time to put things right. #5ActFestiveStory

Memories of flames and magic flickered. No good. So cold. Ella fell forward, frozen stiff. She'd never been good at this. Wait, had she been this cold before? 'Found you.' His voice hurt like brainfreeze. OK, magic couldn't help. But the lump under her hip could. It was the gas fire remote.

'No Mum. Not this time.' Ella's gaze was equally firm. 'He spoke to me. Said he needed something of yours to break the spell-'
'YOU dropped my hat!'
'Easy.'
Outside the window dark shapes drifted with the snow. 'The next bit won't be,' the older woman said. 'We'll need mistletoe.' #5ActFestiveStory

A pen drawing of a mouse wearing a red scarf. He sits near a pine cone.

Feeling a bit unsparkly so drew a tiny mouse for day 10 of #artadventcalendar

I killed a spider Not a murderous brown recluse Nor even a black widow And if the truth were told this Was only a small spider Sort of papery spider Who should have run When I picked up the book But she didn't And she scared me And I smashed her I don't think I'm allowed To kill something Because I am Frightened.

"I don't think I'm allowed to kill something because I am frightened."
—Nikki Giovanni 💔

#poem #poems #poetry

📣GOOD NEWS: For the first time ever, renewable energy (wind, solar & hydropower) will generate more electricity in the UK than fossil fuels this year! 

The renewables future is already here.

'It's him.' Barely audible. 'From the funeral.' Ella shared her Mum's shock. 'I'll make tea'.
As the kettle steam cooled on the kitchen window she sighed and traced the same two words on the glass. Through the dribbling letters she noticed someone across the road. 'He's outside.' #5ActFestiveStory

Celebrating Human Rights Day Human Rights Day offers the opportunity to reflect on what an enormous human achievement ‘human rights’ are and on the commitments they entail, from the empathy which underpins them, to the rule of la...

76 years ago #OnThisDay men and women from every country and every culture, every religion and worldview, came together to agree that some values were shared and should forever be protected as rights for all.' @andrewcopson.bsky.social #HumanRightsDay2024 andrewcopson.com/2024/12/cele...

Call to acknowledge all writers behind celebrity books - The Society of Authors The Society of Authors is calling for celebrities, publishers and agents to acknowledge the writers behind celebrity books, particularly for children

We are calling for celebrities, publishers and agents to acknowledge the writers behind celebrity books, and calling for evidence from members with experiences of ghostwriting.

Read more and take our short survey here👇
societyofauthors.org/2024/12/09/c...